Orca task force issues final recommendations, includes halt to whale watching

The Southern Resident Killer Whale task force has put forth a series of large-scale recommendations for saving the local orca population, including the suspension of commercial whale watching for a limited period.

RELATED: Could breaching Snake River dams save Southern Resident orca?

After a Nov. 6 meeting, the task force presented its series of recommendations for Governor Jay Inslee and the state Legislature to take under consideration.

Those recommendations were then opened to public comment, before being solidified and sent to the state Legislature, announced at a news conference at the Seattle Aquarium on Friday.

In addition to the temporary halt to whale watching, the list also includes a ban on offshore drilling, bumping the distance boats are required to keep from orcas from 200 to 400 yards, and increasing protections for salmon and whale habitats,

“I am proud of the hard work, discussion and analysis we have put into these bold recommendations working toward recovery of the orca,” said State Senator Kevin Ranker in a news release. “The Task Force has worked very hard over the last six months developing major recommendations for the state to implement.”

The thinking behind the moratorium on commercial whale watching stemmed from a need to reduce vessel impacts with orcas, as well as cutting down on noise pollution that makes it difficult for whales to track prey.

The exact text of the recommendation recommends a “regulation that precludes Southern resident orca viewing by all boats in Puget Sound for the next three to five years.” It would apply to both recreational and commercial vehicles. After that three to five year window, a report would then be filed to the governor and Legislature to determine the effectiveness of the suspension.

Originally, the language established a “static ‘No Go’ zone,” but that was eventually amended after being deemed “not acceptable to many task force members,” according to Puget Sound Partnership Communications Lead Cathy Cochrane.

Not on the list is the controversial proposal to breach the Snake River dams, despite many public comments labeling it as the best solution. Breaching the damns will be put to a study committee, who will focus on single dams in the Nooksack River and Pilchuk River respectively.

Incidentally, one of the recommendations does call for broadening the flow of water through the Columbia and Snake River dams to aid in salmon survival rates.

Now that the orca task force has released its recommendations, the next step is implementation, with many requiring the passing of legislation in Olympia.

“This report is just the first step,” said Ranker. “Our work is not finished, it has just begun. Implementation is critical as these recommendations go before the governor and Legislature. I pledge to work hard with my colleagues in the Legislature to enact bold policy to permanently protect our resident orcas.”

The task force will be meeting next year to decide on additional recommendations, due to Governor Inslee by October 2019.

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