Beach cat!

my boyz: darren & hendersen

We decided to take our cat on one of our routine walks to the beach. As you will see by the images, he is an explorer by nature, and loyal to us no matter where we go. He does not fear the unknown and can be trusted to stay near by. Maybe one day he will see an orca pass? Maybe we can add him to our team? None the less we feel blessed by this little creature who showcases unique and lovable characteristics filling each of our days with love and light. He loves to have conversation, sometimes we can carry on for a few mins depending.

While at the beach, hendersen hung out on beach wood, scanning the water horizon for all the birds and other interesting sights. I would love nothing more then to see his reaction to seeing a sealion, seal or even a killer whale! Hendersen has been known to befriend dogs who their owners thought, did not like cats. He is patient and greets young children (most cats run for cover) and provides good medicine when i experience anxiety attacks. I used to take him to the Vancouver General hospital and walk the halls with him, letting patients and doctors pat him. No one ever asked us to leave but welcomed his lovely presence into the environment. I believe this cat has healing qualities and i am not the only one to have benefited from them.

People who have met hendersen, know his amazing personality. We consider him a rock star. Even a tv cameraman fell in love with him telling us he would actually consider doing a story on him. I think I will do this myself. I have been documenting his behavior over time, collecting images of him and special moments caught as images. I think hendersen is here to make our worlds a better place, offers constant unconditional love and has a sence of humour i never knew a cat could have. In some strange way, he is human. We are greatful for him being in our lives.

see all the images here

More orca babies!!!

Today is my birthday and today i found out there are two more southern resident orca babies born, that is the best birthday present i could have ever asked for !!! Read the comments for articles.

Orcas' threatened designation

Orcas' threatened designation has come too late, warn environmentalists

Broadcast News


PHOTO CREDIT: Global BC file
Resident orcas off southern Vancouver Island have been having trouble producing offspring.

December 17, 2004

VANCOUVER -- The U.S. government is proposing to list killer whales in the waters off Washington State as a "threatened" species.

But one orca advocacy group says it may be too late.

The threatened status would help protect the habitat of the southern resident killer whales, who spend their summers in the waters off southern Vancouver Island.

But the head of the Orca Relief environmental group says Washington should have taken action 20 years ago.

Mark Anderson says some of the males and females in the pods can no longer reproduce.

Population of the three pods has declined by nearly 20 per cent in the last decade to fewer than 85 whales.

Two years ago, the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service decided the orcas didn't need the protection provided by the threatened designation.

However, a federal court judge ordered the fisheries service to reconsider because of a lawsuit filed by environmentalists.

© Broadcast News 2004

Copyright © 2004 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest Global Communications Corp. All rights reserved.

GO luna GO lpod!

VANCOUVER.CBC.CA News - Full Story :
High hopes for Luna reunion
Last Updated: Dec 13 2004 08:44 AM PST

VICTORIA - The family of Luna the orphaned killer whale has been spotted off the west coast of Vancouver Island.

The sighting in early December now raises the hopes of a natural reunion.

Whale researcher Paul Spong says Luna has been heard calling in an area of Nootka Sound. If Luna calls as the pod passes, they will likely go to each other.

"Orcas are very close," he says. "They've bonded to one another. Individual family members stay in their families for life. They retain the calls that they use in their infancy throughout their lives. So Luna, I think, would recognize the pod. The pod would recognize him."

Spong says it's the best time of year for a possible reunion. Because it's off season, Luna won't be distracted by the fishing boats he's come to love so much.

Spong believes if a reunion does happen, Luna would likely remain with his pod.

The killer whale has been the focus of a struggle between federal officials and local First Nations.

FROM JUNE 16, 2004: First Nations canoes lure Luna away from capture

The Mowachaht-Muchalaht believe the whale embodies the spirit of their late chief. Mike McQuinna's father passed away just before Luna appeared.

The band prevented federal officials from capturing and transporting the whale to the pod. But Mcquinna says if it happens naturally, that's great.

Copyright 2004 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved

Black Widow Spider

I know this is not orca related but i just could not help but share.

I found a black widow spider in my closet. This appears to be a male. I tryed to vacuum it up but it ran under and up the other side of the wall, inside the house. I have destroyed the den and taped up the gap, hopefully that is the last time we encounter each other.

If i see another one, i will try to capture it, photograph and videotape it, then release outside somewhere. I will be sure to wear protective gloves.

Rant: Killer Whale Recovery

So there is an effort taking place and you can read more about it here.

There have been workshops however they are not publicized, nor is the information discussed publicly or available for the public. This is a public issue and needs to involve everyone. How can just a few people manage a problem created by an entire continent? I fully respect those on the panel and those making efforts to help recover the Southern Resident killer whale population. There is a form you can fill out requesting participation where you submit your credentials and intentions. Should it really be that difficult to be part of a solution? Since when does credentials determine if you should be allowed to understand a problem that involves everyone. This must be public domain!

A friend of mine asked her boss who attended the latest workshop (Oct) about what was covered and if it was possible to see the information however he replied with "sorry that is confidential information".

WHY!? Why is this not being shared? I have waited a year to see if something would surface, campaigns, initiatives but nothing. I have spoken to several people who are actively involved within the marine mammal environment and we have all agreed that this door must be opened. For how long will we go on ignoring this problem? We hope our initiative (to be unveiled in spring 2005) will be part of an eye opening process for all. We must all understand how our behaviors have contributed to this problem and only then will a problem this big be understood on many levels and solutions start to take place.

There are many of us who can help. The whales are dying and many people do not understand why. Once finished my first course (1 of 8 - 7 more to go) I will meet and request direction from Dr Peter Ross who is the toxicologist for the Southern Resident killer whales. He discovered that these animals contain the highest levels of contaminants on the planet. I will ask him how the public can get involved and why they have not been informed of the progress and workshop events to date. I respect the work that Peter has done and appreciate him sharing his work with the public. This issue is tied into our own human health and future sustainability. I want to know what the future holds.

Contaminated Orca

Skana L79

an image sequence i took of a killer whale named Skana L79 from 07/12/2004 04:00:0 PM, San Juan Islands

Dream : The Orca Journey

photo © 2004 c tucker

Two nights ago I had another orca dream. Grama and Grampa (grampa died about 17 years ago) and I were in a car, they dropped me off at Dallas road. Except instead I was somewhere else, somewhere surrounded by concrete. Then it seemed there was a slit in the concrete that opened up and a procession of orca was passing by me from right to left - i could see so many fins peircing through the ground. One individual (young male) leaped up and onto his left side and slid back into the line of orcas and i looked on in amazement. I decended underground where i could somehow see from below, and saw they had left. I could clearly see the wild undersea water that surrounded my vision. My only understanding of this, is that sooner then later the Southern Resident orcas will leave the area for the winter as they usually do. Where they go, we do not know.

There is something i am compelled to point out in all my orca dreams as of lately, and that is that one individual (orca) is always presenting themselves and almost identifying themselves in one form or another.

I chose to assemble this image as it translates the power of the visual i had seen in my dream. Although not exactly the same predicament, it carries the same impact.

Paint Runoff

photo © 2004 c tucker

Today on my walk, i found this white substance dripping out of the land based sewage pipe - that feeds into the ocean. I have contacted DFO, Sierra Club and the Regional District to see if they might know what it is.

sewage images

Added Nov 24 : Capital District took samples and determined it was paint, however they are unable to find the source since it could be coming from anywhere. At the shoreline thrives much intertidal life as well as sea birds and pinnipeds. It is obvious there is not enough education about runoff and waste management laws are being violated and our health impacted.

I missed this but someone also told me that the NEW VI TV did a short segment on the paint run off as well. This makes me feel very happy to see that something is being done about situations like this. Broadcasting education is our biggest hope.

Sierra club Victoria will use the photographs in runoff educational campaigns.

Toxic Smart

more of runoff Clean Water Starts with You

J's & L's

photo © 2004 c tucker

MMRG Ron Bates called to say that L and J pod and were eastbound from Race Rocks - they were travelling about 9 miles across the strait. I headed up to Walbran Park (whale spotting hill) and spotted some activity way over on the Port Angeles side. Breaches and some other activity I could not really make out. The breaches looked like little black blobs flinging out of the water from where I was.

I was unable to take any photos as they were to far however they were situated on the other side of this "evergreen" cargo ship. Notice the smoke stacks feeding into the atmosphere...

Portrait of Poco

Thank you to artist Kristoff Bertram for donating this portrait. This will be donated to the Whale Stewardship Project to do what they wish in Poco's name.

Poco (Beluga whale) dies

The Whale Stewardship Project;

I write to express my deepest condolences and great sadness in responce to Poco's death. He was a young, unique being who touched the many lives around him and around the world. For those of us who followed the young beluga's life remotely, it is sadning to see that his journey ended so soon. Animals & Mammals have the ability to touch us and teach us in ways no human can. When they look at you, the ancients look too.

During the summer of 2003, I was a monitor who tended to the young Southern Resident orca, Luna / L98 / Tsux'iit. For reasons we do not know, for the time being he has chosen to live a solitary life in Nootka Sound, just as Poco chose to live a solitary and more exploratory life.

These beings teach us that magic is real, and deliver messages of love and respect. It is up to us to find the meaning of their lives and make it positive to help their future and ours. We do not always have to understand their lives to realize that individuals like Poco leave a legacy behind we will not soon forget.

You will be missed.

With love
Chantelle Tucker

Learn more about Poco and other solitary Belugas - whale stewardship

---

BELUGA WHALE FOUND DEAD IN S. PORTLAND

Experts from the University of New England say a beluga whale found dead this morning in South Portland is the same whale that was spotted all along the new england coast this summer.

The whale, nicknamed "Poco", reportedly beached last night. His body is being taken to an aquarium in Boston where an examination will be done.

Poco became a popular attraction this summer in maine. He was spotted everywhere from Falmouth harbor to the Saco river.

He was a juvenile Beluga--just a couple of years old. Beluga whales are normally found in artic waters. Marine biologists were hoping Poco would find his way back home this winter.

Experts say Poco exhibited behavior that was unusual for Beluga whales. Lucy Keith of the University of New England told NEWS CENTER, "Instead of staying with other beluga whales, which normally stay in groups, he took off on his own to explore the big wide world."

He loved being around people. This fall he reportedly followed a family in a sailboat all the way from Maine to Provincetown, Massachusetts

story here

Update: Nov 16 2004

SCIENTISTS: POCO DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES

A team of more than a dozen scientists examined the carcass of the Beluga whale that swam around Maine harbors this summer.

The whale, nicknamed "Poco", beached Sunday night. His body was taken to Woods Hole, Mass., for the necropsy.

Scientists say they found evidence of lung infection, which probably caused Poco's death.

Poco became a popular attraction this summer in Maine. He was spotted everywhere from Falmouth harbor to the Saco River.

Scientists believe the whale was between three and five years old. Beluga whales are normally found in artic waters, and swim in groups called pods.

Poco was classified as a "solitary social" whale.

Friends of Ecological Reserves

Article about M3 / Photo by Chantelle Tucker - download PDF

Thank you for mentioning my website in your latest newsletter;

Orcagirl
Photographer, filmmaker and web designer Chantelle Tucker has put this website together featuring her extensive portfolio of photographs on and off the water. Dedicated to raising awareness of problems created by human/whale interactions, the site is updated regularly with whale sightings, news about environmental and other hazards to whales and links to various stewardship organizations. Check out the gorgeous shot of an orca off San Juan Island with a surreal Mount Baker floating in the background.

visit: Friends of Ecological Reserves

OG at Pulp Mill

photo © 2003 r griffin
Chantelle at Gold River's abandoned pulp mill Oct 2003. enlarge photo

This mill is at the centre of much controversy. It is this type of institution that has contaminated our waters, fish, whales, and has infected people with illness due to industry exposure. But an overwhelming presence it has, and a reminder to us all of what we cannot undo. This mill is responsible for contaminating the site of the once Muchalaht reservation, that resided next to the mill. I was told by locals that during it's time in operation, people became ill and cancer developed. The reservation was moved to the top of a mountain. The Muchalaht people originally lived at Yuqot (Friendly Cove) - gateway to the open Pacific Ocean. The mill was the main economic force for Gold River, and after the permanent closure in 1999, the community never fully recovered from mass job loss.

There are discussions going on around the site being converted into a green energy plant, purchased by rock star Jules. I honestly don't know much about this however am interested in researching this further.

Orcagirl on Zed

Ode to ZeD

Well I would never have thought so but I was notified that I was 1 of 15 selected to be further examined for the possibility of an episode spot tv. This means the ZED crew would hang out with me for a few days, and I would take them on a marine mammal scavenger hunt by land and maybe by sea - that depends on weather, boat availability and where the whales are. At the very least we would climb up to Gonzales Hill lookout, head over to Sooke to see the epic west coast and maybe if we are lucky some gray whales. I will be sure to document the event should it happen. Gee, ZED documenting me, documenting marine life, and documenting them? I bet they never would have thought!

I was told they will make a final decision by Nov 15 and will cut it back to 5 and then begin the production. Either way I was honoured to be thought of and will greet the opportunity for all to experience what I have come to love. If I am selected, marine biologist Rachael Griffin will head over to join us.

In the past ZED has aired my short film "Breaching" as well as featured my project "Whaling", "Not Forgotten", "New Life", Reggae Cowboys live", and "Zina Farts" on their website. My fishies also made their debut as well last spring. They have also featured me as a member as well as featuring my "Ocean" group.



They were also kind enough to send me these presents;



I have made lots of new contacts through ZED including people to collaborate with and producers for larger scale videos. I have decided that ZED is good for your life.

http://orcagirl.zed.cbc.ca

Bid to help orcas

U.S., Canada hook up in bid to help orcas
Experts will focus on improving killer whales' toxic, food-short habitat so threatened pods can breed themselves out of danger
 
Louise Dickson
Times Colonist

Sunday, November 07, 2004

A team of Canadian and U.S. experts has begun the daunting task of trying to protect killer whales in their increasingly toxic environment.

The southern resident whales, found in waters around the Gulf Islands, southern Vancouver Island and San Juan Islands, are contaminated with high levels of cancer-causing PCBs and other chemicals that threaten their reproductive and immune systems.

Because of the combined impact of pollution, heavy boat traffic and reduced salmon stocks, the southern resident population has been labelled endangered and the northern residents are deemed threatened. The northern group is typically found around Johnstone Strait and Robson Bight.

The designation came in 2001 from the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and meant action was legally required under the federal Species at Risk Act.

"We're trying to improve their situation," said Dr. John Ford, a marine mammal scientist at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo.

"But it can't be like marmots, which breed in captivity. That is simply not an option. We have to make the habitat better for killer whales so they can recover themselves."

The killer whale recovery team, which was selected by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in January and includes representatives from the whale watching industry, wrapped up a two-day meeting in Victoria this week.

A big question the group faces is why the killer whale population declined after peaking in the mid-1990s, and what can be done to reverse that decline.

According to Ford, shootings and live captures kept the killer whale population artificially low in the 1960s and 1970s. The population levelled off in the mid-1980s, then increased again. But in the mid-1990s, the southern residents declined 20 per cent from 99 to 78. The population has levelled off this year at 85.

There are 225 northern resident killer whales but about half of the 16 calves born to that group this year are not expected to survive the winter.

The experts know they need to carry out more research. During the two-day session, they reviewed recent findings showing whales prefer chinook and chum salmon, so researchers will now focus conservation efforts on these species, said Ford.

But the big question -- where killer whales go in the winter and what they eat in winter -- still has to be answered.

"We may have to go out in deepest, darkest winter and try to find them acoustically," said Ford.

The team wants to act quickly on the most immediate ways to effect change, such as mitigating the use of mid-frequency sonar -- whales have been found to beach themselves and die after exposure to certain types of sonar --or working with the whale-watching industry to improve its operating guidelines to minimize the impact on whale populations.

Dr. Peter Ross, a scientist with the Institute of Ocean Sciences, said the main challenge is to protect the whales from pollution by reducing the impact of toxins that accumulate in the environment.

"There are 350,000 homes on the peninsula and each is intrinsically linked to the quality of the ocean," said Ross. "Each time you flush the toilet or use chemicals in the sink, household or lawn, it has the potential to get into the water. You have not solved the problem by flushing it out of your house or by rinsing the driveway."

A draft report on a recovery plan for the orcas should be finished by February and will go through a round of public consultation, said Marilyn Joyce, co-chairperson of the recovery team. The report will then be sent to the federal Fisheries and Environment ministers.

© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2004

Important links:
http://www.flameretardants.org
http://www.watoxics.org

an alternative?
http://www.natfire.com

T 20, T 21 Transient Orcas

photo © 2004 c tucker

Ron Bates from Marine Mammal Research Group called to tell me that T 20 & T 21 (transient orcas) were between Clover Point and Trial Island so I hauled myself out of pj's and away from work and ran down to the bottom of my street and watched the two orcas slowly make their way across and then behind Trial Island (2:30). I watched them for about an hour there. While watching them, I noticed a plethora of harbour seals and stellar sea lions passing very close to the rocks I was sitting on, and some of the seals appeared nervous and were halfway out of the water looking towards Trial Island. They were in tight groups and traveled on their way.

According to Orca Networks sighting report, they had made a kill out there, I though I had seen some activity but did not have my good binoculars on me at the time. I suppose the pinnipeds could have heard the transients while making a kill thus their behavior. I proceeded up to King George Terrace Lookout and caught one transient around the Cardinal Buoy between Victoria and Trial Island that was around 3:30 pm and that was the last I saw of them. I noticed lots of harbour seals laying about at the bottom of Trial Island and noticed three bald eagles perched as well. Wonderful day it was.

It appears as though our Humpback visitors have left, Ron said the last time he saw them was the end of October so unless they come back soon - I guess it is good bye until next year! I was thrilled to have had the experience of watching them during October.

Whales Workshop

Ways of Whales Workshop, Nov. 13, 2004

Orca Network is proud to present the third annual Ways of Whales workshop to be held Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004 in Coupeville, Whidbey Island, Wash., at the Coupeville Middle School Performing Arts Center, 501 S. Main, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Orca Network and Puget Sound Action Team's Public Involvement and Education fund are sponsoring the educational workshop.

Join us for an enjoyable day of learning about the latest whale research and issues concerning our ocean habitat. Did you know orcas live in culturally diverse, social communities? Are you aware of the increase in sightings of humpback whales in Washington and BC waters? Do you want to know more about the toxins affecting our waters and wildlife? And after the recent oil spills in Puget Sound, would you like to learn more about spill prevention and response?

This day-long workshop will include a variety of presentations on the whales of the Salish Sea, as well as provide educational displays and materials for people who attend. Presentations include Culture in Whales by Howard Garrett of Orca Network, Acceptable Risk: Toxins in Puget Sound by Kristen Burgess of ESA Associates, Humpback Whales by Erin Falcone of Cascadia Research, and an L98/Luna video production by Chantelle Tucker of the Luna Stewardship Project and Orca Girl Productions. We will conclude the workshop with a panel discussion on Oil Spills, featuring representatives from agencies and organizations coordinating oil spill response efforts.

The Ways of Whales workshop is open to all people who want to know more about the whales around us. Admission is $15, with an additional $5 for lunch. To pre-register, go HERE or contact Orca Network or call (360) 678-3451. Registration will also be available at the door (pre-registration required for lunch purchase). To learn more about Orca Network or the whales of in the Puget Sound region, visit www.orcanetwork.org.

NOTE: Thank you to Susan and Howie for inviting me to present on the topic of Luna, however due to lack of transportation and recent complications I am unable to participate. Best of luck with the event!

Birth of orca calves

Whale watchers rejoice at birth of orca calves

Louise Dickson

Times Colonist

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Whale researchers are optimistic the birth of two killer whale calves in October will stabilize and ultimately increase B.C.'s endangered southern resident killer whale population.

They are also encouraged by the births of 16 calves this year in the more populous northern resident population.

"It's a good thing," said John Ford, senior marine mammal scientist at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo. "The southern residents are starting to show an increase in numbers after a steady decline and the successful calving season in the northern residents is a really great thing."

The first southern resident calf was born Oct. 8, while the second was born Oct. 17 -- both to mature females in L pod, one of three southern pods. The births of the calves, named L-104 and L-105 by researchers, boosted the southern population to 85. The whales range around southern Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands.

Ian Stothart, owner of Naturally Salty Excursions whale-watching tours, saw an exuberant calf in early October on the west side of San Juan Island, a few days after it was born.

"He's a very cute little guy, very energetic," said Stothart. "I was able to get a picture of him because he was popping up out of the water. He was tiny, tiny. He almost looked funny because he was so small."

Whether the calves are male or female has yet to be determined.

"Neither one of them has rolled over for us yet," said Ken Balcomb, senior scientist at the Centrer for Whale Research in Friday Harbor, Wash.

VHS radios were crackling with excited chatter when whale watchers and researchers saw the first new calf. "It seemed like it was exciting for the whales as well," said Balcomb. "There was an increase in vocalization and more exciting sounds. Maybe we read into it. Anyway, everybody was happy."

Killer whale calves are usually born in the fall or winter, after a 16- or 17-month gestation period. They weigh about 175 kilograms and are about two metres long.

If the two latest calves survive, it will be good news for the troubled L pod, said Balcomb. Pods are made up of one or more mature females and their immediate descendants and usually travel together. From 1995 to 2003, the population of L pod -- the pod abandoned by the troublesome orca Luna -- declined from 50 to about 43.

"We were going downhill," said Balcomb. "But the decline leveled off in 2003 and has risen slightly this year."

The scientist is optimistic the southern resident population will increase because colder, oceanic La Nina conditions have brought bigger and healthier runs of salmon -- which killer whales feed on -- than seven or eight years ago.

The birth of the calves will give researchers more information on calf mortality rates, which are high at 40 to 45 per cent, said Ford. Winter seems to be more difficult, since it's a time of increased mortality for killer whales. Scientists on both sides of the border will try and track the calves to see where they go and what they're feeding on.

"We'll see if they survive the winter," said Ford.

The first calf's chances appear to be better than the second calf's. The mother of the second baby has already outlived her four previous calves. Her first calf, a male born in 1980, lived for 20 years but did not seem to develop properly. Scientists don't know why he died. Another male, born in 1984, died in 1993. The cause of his death is unknown. A third calf, born in 1990, died in 1993. Scientists never discovered whether that calf was male or female or why it died. Another female born in 1995 died in 1998.

The mother of the first calf gave birth to a female in 1986 and a male in 1996. Both are still healthy.

Like his fellow researchers, Dr. Peter Ross, a marine mammal toxicologist at the Institute of Ocean Sciences, is excited by the births. But after documenting high levels of PCBs and flame retardant chemicals in this population of killer whales, Ross is cautious about their survival.

"Every individual is important to a small population," said Ross. "But I remain concerned that the young calves will be exposed to high levels of toxic contaminants through their mother's milk. We need more research and we need preventative measures to stop the poisons from entering killer whale habitat."

The last sighting of L-pod was three days ago in Haro Strait.

Deactivation / Salmon Run

photo © 2004 c tucker

Well I hate to be a party pooper however with little movement from posters I think I will revert this back to a solo show. I also do not want to segregate certain people or obligate anyone here to post or bind them to posts I make. Of course when you have news, updates and stories to share please email me and I shall post on your behalf. I do urge you all however to investigate blogger for your own use - it is an excellent tool for communication and even just a website. I am sure you understand and I hope no hard feelings?

In the meantime please explore the new salmon photos from today.

Goldstream has a world-class salmon spawning stream with thousands of Chum Salmon returning each year. Bright colours and hooked jaws develop on male Chum salmon after they enter breeding streams. This accounts for the very different appearance these fish have from when they are caught in the ocean... read more here

RANT: Luna tics / antics

photos © 2004 c tucker

This is my first personal responce in regards to Luna / L98 / Tsuxiit

During the summer of 2003 I was a monitor / documentor for the Luna Stewardship Project and worked with Luna, DFO and First Nations for 3 months. What LSP went through was insane and to this day I am still trying to process what has happened. No one except a very few will ever understand just what we were up against. One of the most frustrating parts of this has been the isolation with what we went through. We dealt with people throwing rocks at the whale, intentionally leading the whale around via sail boats, attempting to launch kayaks with the whale for personal benefit (including media), engaging and intentionally interacting with the whale and finally even worse threats of shooting the whale (see images above). We also under went many verbal attacks even a physical one while protecting this animal and the public. We were under strict DFO order and at times had to intervene as we were asked to enforce.

I have found myself disgusted with some of the rhetoric and behavior I have both witnessed and encountered first hand. It is clear to me that some people enjoy hurting others, as I suppose this makes some people feel more powerful. This has been a monster of a situation and I have never in my life encountered more disrespect then I have with this. I keep running into ridiculous information / mis information in regards to the luna situation. The problem with that is that information is not represented correctly. Media has partaken in producing a mass hysteria around the situation sometimes producing tragic results.

I also realize that many people are very angry at the First Nations in Gold River however I disagree that people should be boycotting / attacking them, especially with the monitoring job they are doing as we too endured mistakes and you cannot track luna 24/7 which means you are unable to keep an eye on him all the time. He is a large being who can travel many miles. I understand what it is like to be attacked and know that it does not help us to progress through our differences. For example, during one verbal attack in GR, it took me 20 minutes of educating while speaking diplomatically and kindly which then resulted in a mutual sharing of respect, laughter and support for both parties. I could have pointed my fingers at them yelling and screaming as it had started however by taking another approach, we had made wonderful progress and became friends. I Also realize that DFO is under much attack however I would also like to point out that if it were not for the efforts of DFO that luna could have already been dead. Local DFO has played a huge part in keeping this whale ALIVE.

I appreciate all individuals and groups who are working in a respectful manner towards Luna's reunification. I too hope that Luna can rejoin his family and hold out hopes of that happening. It would be great if luna could hook up with his pod this fall/winter when and if they travel north past Nootka Sound and take luna away from humans and boats for several months - teaching him to be a wild whale again with his own. That way by the time they head south down to Victoria where it is boat infested, he will have lost his interest in boats all together. Mind you at that point the decision is luna's and none of us can force this whale to do anything. That is only my guess and I am entitled to my own opinion.

This has been an incredibly difficult journey for me. There is nothing I regret doing and I know deep down I have done nothing wrong. In my heart I felt it was right to let out what has been sitting silently with me. Disowing it as it was never meant to be my own.

With love
Orcagirl

Disclaimer: you may not link or copy this document without my permission

orca dream - transformation

I will write this down before it fades.

I dreamed i was on an island near shore when i saw a pod of orca passing. I ran along side with my camera (typical of me) to get some footage of them. As i turned around the bend the pod got closer and one individual came towards shore. Rather then being a baby this time it seemed to be an almost full grown male. There was also a man on shore next to me who became excited and started to throw rocks at the whale when i shouted STOP (this occured when i was monitoring luna). As the animal got closer, he transformed into a man, who walked towards me. He was a young native man, seemed very happy and smiled the whole time. He came towards me and asked me to go with him however i was shocked and confused. I followed the man into what felt like a tunnel, almost underwater however it felt like we were in an air bubble and there were many others (indigenous looking) there too.

That is all I can transmit of this dream. It was very compelling and the first time an orca has emerged into a human being before my eyes.

Orcas & Humpbacks

photos © 2004 c tucker
Today was an incredible day! The southerns came back to San Juan (we saw the new baby of L27?). The whales were spread out all over hunting salmon, then we visited one of the humpbacks off of Victoria who was playing with kelp, swimming backwards, and opening his / her mouth. We also got word that T14 (Pender) is around somewhere near Victoria, will take a look off of the waterfront in the next while.

Found out the orcas are headed to Puget Sound, where the recent oil spill took place.

baby orca of L27 / Ophelia at San Juans:
1. baby L-105
2. baby L-105
3. baby L-105
4. baby L-105
5. baby L-105

humpback off of Victoria with kelp:
1. playful with kelp
2. playful with kelp
3. playful with kelp
4. playful with kelp
5. playful with kelp
6. playful with kelp
7. playful with kelp
8. playful with kelp
9. playful with kelp

more photos:
humpback photos
southern resident photos

Large Oil Spill In Puget Sound

Large Oil Spill In Puget Sound

October 14, 2004
 
By KOMO Staff & News Services


TACOMA - An oil spill stained a stretch of Tacoma's Commencement Bay and spread to beaches on nearby Vashon and Maury islands on Thursday.

State Department of Ecology investigators said the spill involved hundreds, and possibly thousands of gallons. They did not immediately know the source or type of oil that spilled or how far it had spread.

Spill responders from the department and the U.S. Coast Guard were sent to Dalco Passage, between the south end of Vashon Island and Tacoma's Point Defiance, after someone on a tug boat reported thick black oil in the water, Ecology spokeswoman Mary Ellen Voss said.

The initial report, phoned in around 1 a.m., indicated the spill was about an acre in size, but television news footage shot from a helicopter at midday showed an oily sheen spreading over a much larger area.


"We're calling it the 'Dalco Passage Mystery Spill' because we don't know how big it is, where it came from or where it's headed," Voss said. Officials added the ship involved might not know it has lost the oil.

Ecology officials said it took several hours for thick morning fog to clear enough for spill responders to get out on the water and into the air to investigate.

Right now, clean up is being focused on the outer harbor of Quartermaster Bay at the south end of Vashon and Maury islands, as well as the stretch of water between the two. They are trying to keep the stuff out of the more sensitive inner harbor.


"This is really bad. And unfortunately because of the fog and slow reaction, a lot of the oil has already hit the beaches on Vashon and Maury islands," Kathy Fletcher, executive director of the community environmental group People for Puget Sound, said early Thursday afternoon.

"Apparently, it's not big, black globules, but people have observed birds in the oil," Fletcher said.

Another Ecology Department spokesperson says the area where the oil was coming ashore on Vashon is a significant herring ground, as well as a location full of shellfish, crabs, marine mammals and migrating birds.

They're ask that people stay away from the oil so they don't expose themselves to the fumes and so they don't track the oil around.

Cleanup operations began with boats plying the spill area to skim oil from the surface, Ecology spokesman Larry Altose said.

The Coast Guard said two contractors hired to handle the cleanup would also be using protective booms in some areas.

In the meantime, officials will "fingerprint" the oil to get its composition, which can help identify the source.

Humpbacks off of Victoria

Been observing and documenting two humpbacks off of Dallas Road (off of Beacon Hill park). Lots of backs and big beautiful tails. Today multiple breaches and tail slapping. Not that clear since these are taken from video. below is a tail and a blow.



photos © 2004 c tucker

We are blessed by the presence of these magnificant beings. They have been returning for the past 7 years to the area. For many decades, no humpbacks were sighted as they were completely wiped out by the whaling industry however they have been living here longer then we have know. Each year a few return here, I feel so happy to see this almost impossible come back.

Captain Tom McMillen from Salish Sea Charters captured some incredible photos of the breaches I saw from shore.

added Oct 15th my photos of Humpbacks off of Victoria

Orcas in film

Well that was a close call. A feature film that just wrapped up here in Victoria contacted me about using some of my orca / luna footage in their film. Turns out the film stars Adam Beach (Wind Talkers, Dance Me Outside, North of 60). I won't say too much about the film at this point however I believe it is slated to premiere tonight at the Sundance Film Festival. The topics of this film resonate with much of my work and I look forward to seeing it in the future.

However, it turns out my footage was not the right format and under the time and budget constraints could not transfer to film. I was very honoured to be contacted by such a project for my contribution. Once the film is released I will comment more about it and it's story. The good news is we have decided to meet and discuss future possible projects.

Just this alone made it all worth while;

"Your footage was amazing and everyone loved it but we won't be able to use it because of tech specs. We need to match the rest of our footage and it will cost too much to 'filmize' it and stretch to right aspect ratio. Sadly, we have to pay a fortune for footage far less spectacular and meaningful than yours."

Thank you - you know who you are.

Save Orca Whales

Toxic Poisoning

The southern resident orcas are among the most heavily contaminated marine mammals in the world. Before awareness, changes in the law, scientific scrutiny and business practices changed, vast amounts of toxic waste from industry was dumped into the marine environment directly or into the rivers that run into it. There are at least 850 identified waste sites on land and in the water in Washington state.

For orcas and other marine mammals as well as countless creatures living in the rivers and coastal marine waters of Washington and SW British Columbia, this means continued exposure to poison. The toxic wastes still lie in sediment under the water and also remain in landfills that leach into the food chain of orcas and humans alike. These toxic substances are generally referred to PBT's (persistent, bioaccumulative toxics). Persistent means they are long-lived and continue doing damage decade after decade. Bioaccumulative means that the toxic chemicals become more concentrated as they move up the food chain. Toxic includes the chemical substances' abilities to cause cancer, birth defects, immune system dysfunction and countless other maladies. Orcas and humans are among the animals at the top.

Orca whales have toxic loads of many substances, including PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls). Studies indicate that the levels of toxic chemicals in the southern resident orca community, as well as the offshore populations of orca whales, is more than enough to impact their immune systems. This immunosuppression makes them unable to fight off even the smallest infection. It is also believed that reproductive success is also heavily impacted. Orca mothers die while giving birth. Orca calves - getting large amounts of toxic substances from their mother's milk - are at further risk.

It is believed that southern resident Orcas eat some species of bottomfish that feed in the polluted sediments and waters of Puget Sound. Any additional toxic chemical intake may mean the difference between life and extinction for these orcas.

Today there continue to be allowances for further PBT pollution discharges under state permits. This must be opposed. Agencies are under a great deal of pressure to respond to industry, even if it means compromising orca, salmon and human health. Government agencies are failing to adequately consider the total cumulative discharge and its effects on the marine environment.

© International Marine Mammal Project

save orca whales for more

Orca Dreams

Well through my life time I have had many dreams of killer whales, and I must add that many of these dreams have come true. At the time of dreaming about them, the last thing I expected was to see the dreams come to pass as real events in my life. There have been a new set of reoccuring orca dreams. The last set I had were about Luna. During the winter of 2003, I had vivid dreams of seeing a smallish orca nestled in between boats at a dock - somewhere remote. Later I learned this would be Luna and not only was it shocking to see the photos of Luna of the images in my dream, but I would later be called to document and monitor him.

Recently I have had two dreams which include a very young and very small orca. This is not Luna, but a much younger and much smaller orca. In dream #1, I am standing on the Songhees waterway, when I see a small pod - rather spread out entering the Victoria Inner Harbour - across from Laurel Point Inn. I am standing right at the foot of the ocean when a very small orca appears and is still at my feet. This orca is almost "parked" here, and I scrambled to take it's photograph. I remember that we both were there for a long time. I later found myself walking along the Songhees waterfront away from the orcas and wanted to make sure the group found their way out. These are obviously Southern Residents.

In dream #2, I am standing at the edge of an island in the Johnstone Strait when I see a massive group of blows coming down the strait from the east traveling west. Once they come into line with me, again a baby, tiny orca comes towards shore. I am standing with my feet in the water, and the baby comes right up to my feet, I backed up since I was worried the orca was going to touch me. At that point the orca squiggled and rubbed its way into deeper water and went on it's way. I saw many breaches and large orca's very socially active. Again very vivid images. These are obviously Northern Residents.

Normally I would just think "wow what a dream" however I have had probably about 50 dreams of orcas in the past 10 years and many of them have come true. Part of my interest in them has developed though my dreams and the details provided in them. My dreams can come true within any time frame I have learned from tracking and studying the patterns. Anywhere from 3 years to one day. While I was living in Vancouver 3 years ago, I had reoccuring dreams of seeing orcas off of Dallas road in Victoria. Well, that has also come to pass and we have been having numerous sightings of orcas off of Dallas road in the past years - both Residents and Transients. I can understand how some people would think this is crazy but I have learned over time that I can trust them. And for those dreams that do not come true - they have a purpose also. I am still trying to better understand why this is happening to me and what I am supposed to do with it all! In some strange way I feel blessed by these experiences and give them my respect.

Review of salmon mortality

Federal Fisheries minister says there will be review of salmon mortality
 
Canadian Press

September 20, 2004
VANCOUVER (CP) -- Although the federal Fisheries Department monitors river conditions year-round, officials could not react fast enough to prevent deaths of spawning salmon in northern B.C. due to Fraser River temperatures, federal Fisheries Minister Geoff Regan suggested Monday.
 
"I'm saying we manage to the conditions we saw and what's happened is the weather has been warmer than expected, the water levels low and we've seen significant results from that," Regan told reporters.
 
The minister has been in B.C. for several days and was responding to concern expressed on the weekend by some B.C. Fisheries experts.
 
They warned of a major ecological disaster after initial federal Fisheries counts showed only a small fraction of the predicted number of sockeye salmon reached their spawning grounds in northern B.C. this summer.
 
"I'm very concerned with the situation with sockeye salmon on the Fraser River," said the minister.
 
He said that preliminary observations by Fisheries officials found that the number of salmon arriving at the mouth of the Fraser River corresponded to expectations.
 
But lethally high water temperatures didn't prompt a fisheries closure.
 
"We found that the environmental conditions in the river had a very strong impact on sockeye mortality."
 
He said Fraser River temperatures should be below 18 C for salmon to spawn successfully but readings this summer put the temperature at between 19 C and 21 C.
 
He tried to explain why Fisheries officials didn't order a halt to commercial and native fisheries despite the high water temperatures..
 
"And what the temperatures are, the conditions are, are very different at the beginning than the end. When you make your plans on one set of conditions, and those conditions change or worsen, you have to build into your planning process some cushion."
 
Regan rejected the suggestion that a public inquiry should be called but said the department would conduct a "public post-season review."
 
"I want to see the public have an input in this because if we're going to learn from this we're going to have that review."
 
On Sunday, Ken Malloway, co-chairman of the B.C. Aboriginal Fisheries Commission, met with Regan in Kamloops.
 
"The returns are really, really bad," said Malloway.
 
One count on the Early Stuart sockeye species run on the Fraser River -- one of the first runs to finish -- found fewer than 10,000 of the expected 90,000 sockeye reached spawning grounds, said Don Radford, the Fisheries Department's regional director of fisheries management.

© Canadian Press 2004

Copyright © 2004 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest Global Communications Corp. All rights reserved.
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Luna Videos

The Australian Broadcast Coorporation (who we took out two weeks ago on M3 to see the Southern Residents) did an interesting story on Luna. See video here. Approximately 15 of those clips were shot by myself during the summer of 2003. To see the full video of Luna from 2003, please go to the front of the site and click on the Luna image.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation National put out a new documentary about Luna. view the real player video here and fast forward to 24 minute mark. running time is 17 mins. 7 of my own clips are weaved throughout this documentary. My clips are from 1 year ago - 2003 summer between July and Sept.

Scientists Study Whale Watchers

Wash. Scientists Study Whale Watchers
Scientists in Washington State Study Whether Whale Watching Poses Threat to Migrating Orcas

The Associated Press

TACOMA, Wash.
Sept. 19, 2004 — Killer whales get the superstar treatment every summer off the Washington coast, where tourists fill up whale-watch boats to catch a glimpse of the majestic animals. Now, researchers are studying whether all the attention could be a bad thing.

University of Washington researcher David Bain, who has studied orcas for 20 years, and other scientists suspect boat noise might interfere with the orcas' echolocation the way they bounce sounds off objects to monitor their surroundings and find prey.

Bain is part of an international group of government-backed scientists working to learn why the local orca population has dropped to 83 from 98 in 1995.

Canadian scientists have already concluded that the northern resident orcas in British Columbia burn more energy when boats are present, so they must eat more to sustain themselves. If the same holds true for southern residents in Puget Sound, that would affect their survival, Bain said.

Washington's killer whales the southern resident population typically spend summers chasing salmon in and around Haro Strait, the six-mile-wide passage between Vancouver, British Columbia, and the San Juan Islands. For years, their annual visit has drawn flotillas of commercial whale-watch boats from Washington and Canada.

Scientists believe marine traffic, human encroachment, faltering salmon runs and pollution are contributing to the orcas' decline. It isn't yet clear whether whale-watching is playing a role, but recent increases in the number of whale watchers, both on pleasure craft and commercial vessels, have heightened these concerns.

If research proves boat noise hurts the whales, Bain said, limits might be needed on hours, days or locations. But he added that the popularity of whale-watching also can help the cause of conservation.

"If whale-watch operators can get hundreds of thousands of people to rally behind whales, it can more than offset the impact they're having," he told The News Tribune of Tacoma.

Some activists already believe boats are detrimental to orcas.

"Protect Whales, Watch From Shore," declares an 8-foot-long banner, one of several stretched along San Juan Island's shore by the Orca Relief Citizens Alliance.

"Our point is: Watch whales. See what magnificent creatures they are. And do it in a safe way for the whales," said group director Birgit Kriete.

The campaign infuriates some whale-watch tour operators. But Tom McMillen, who runs Salish Sea Charters, concedes there is sometimes a circus atmosphere on the water. He noted operators now subscribe to a paging service that tracks the animals.

"There's no mystery. I know right where we're going," McMillen said one evening as he headed out to Haro Strait. "That's neat, but it's sad in a way. They (the whales) don't get a break ever."

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright © 2004 ABC News Internet Ventures.

Ellen's Orca Photographs

Northern Residents Orca photos. These are simply stunning!

Orca Recovery Research

Cantwell Secures $1.5 Million for Continued Orca Recovery Research in Senate Spending Bill
Federal funds would support study of declining orca population

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
Washington

For Immediate Release
September 16, 2004
Contact:
Charla Neuman
202-224-8277
202-309-3447 (cell)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced today that she secured $1.5 million in a Senate spending bill for research funding to study the decline in the Puget Sound Southern Resident orca population and to support ongoing recovery efforts.

"A healthy orca population, with its position at the top of the food chain, is a barometer for the well-being of the Puget Sound ecosystem," Cantwell said. "These funds will help us understand why our beloved orca population is declining and allow us to move forward and ensure they are part of our region's future."

These funds would support ongoing research by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries and build upon the $1.5 million Cantwell secured in fiscal year 2004 and $750,000 in fiscal year 2003. The research will determine factors that may be causing the population's decline, define goals for population recovery, identify specific measures to help restore the population, and help develop a comprehensive recovery plan.

Last October, Cantwell successfully persuaded NOAA to allocate $100,000 of the funds to help reunite L-98 with his pod. Known as Luna, the orca has been stranded in the Nootka Sound near Gold River for over three years, while his pod is based in the Puget Sound.

While the early stages of a reunification effort earlier this summer fell victim to poor communication between the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and a First Nations tribe of Vancouver Island, the funds secured by Cantwell were not used, as NOAA would have only been involved in later stages of the reunification within American waters.

This funding is even more critical in light of NOAA's ongoing consideration of listing the Southern Resident orca population under the Endangered Species Act. An announcement is expected in December. In May 2003, NOAA listed the population as officially "depleted" under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Waiting for Orcas

Photo taken at Clover Point by Spyhopper (with an added surprize)


Photo taken at Clover Point by Chantelle Tucker

see more of spyhopper's orca photos!

Dave Brigg's CD "Echoes"

My name is Dave Briggs, as folks on OL and WW know. But, for new folks, I wanted to let you know about my CD, and a little about myself. I was a researcher in the strait for almost 20 years and have many beautiful recordings of the orcas, a sample of which I've put together in my CD "Echoes". The CD makes a great learning tool for anyone wanting to learn some of the northern resident calls, maybe to help listen to OrcaLive, as I did a sample of each pod, and it's a pretty CD to listen to on it's own as well, especially during the winter when OL shuts down and the orcas have gone elsewhere. Here is some info about the CD:

There are 12 tracks with most every pod represented: 1) A36's, 2) A12's, 3) A30's, 4) A35's 5) A8's, 6) B's, 7) C's and D's together, 8) H's I1's I17's and I18's together, 9) G's 10) I15's, 11) I31's and 12 ) R's. There is no narration or music, just whales, and no boats either. The recordings were digitally recorded and mastered and the CD's professionally produced, by a recording studio. Each CD comes with a full color booklet explaining who is on each track (pod and subpod, as well as other sounds like echolocation, fish grunting, shrimp and crabs, etc.), an orca photo on the cover and on the CD, a jewel box, and each is individually shrink wrapped.

Here are some comments from other OL/WW folks who have bought one:

Dave;
My CD arrived today and I'm listening to it as I write this. It's utterly fantastic. Holy Mackerel !! - as we say in Nova Scotia. Thank you so much for making the CD and making it available to all of us. Not only are the tracks superb but you did a terrific job on the entire packaging as well. The liner notes are great.
Thanks again
Mary Liz :-)

Hi Dave:
The CDs arrived yesterday - thank you!
Truly wonderful - brings back memories from the summer - as though I am actually there with the whales. Think I told you about nights on Hanson Island,sleeping in a tent on the deck and listening to the whales as they passed through. Magical place and magical sounds! Your CD has superior sound quality.
All the best,
Arlene

A portion of the proceeds goes towards the research and warden program at Robson Bight in BC, which I was a part of for almost 20 years. You can email me at "dbriggsa12(at)verizon(dot)net" if you'd like more information. Thanks for your support!

Dave

Offshore killer whales

Offshore killer whales have shown up in the Johnstone Strait area. Log onto Orca-Live to possibly catch a glimpse of them!

I am hoping they are headed down south, if so I will try to get out and take a look! Offshores are very rarely sighted, a bit smaller in size and travel in larger numbers. There is little known about them. Other kinds of killer whales are Residents (fish eaters) and Transients (mammal eaters).

Offshore photos by Rolf Hicker

Photographer Rolf Hicker

new photos by the very talented Rolf: Pacific white sided dolphins

Transients near Victoria

36 Transient orcas were around the Victoria area during last week. Sighted from Dallas road, Clover point, Trial Island, Race Rocks (which means possibly visable from Esquimalt, Metchosin and onwards). I was told the group was vocal above water. It is not clear what they were doing.

As of two days ago, they were still in the area. I will keep my eyes peeled. Should you see anything feel free to post a comment. Last night I ran into a couple of OLers searching for the orcas from Clover Point.

a photo of dallas road / clover point

Fire retardant in killer whales

Fire retardant shows up in killer whales
Last Updated: Aug 26 2004 05:43 PM PDT

VICTORIA - A new study shows that the same toxic pollutant recently found in B.C. farmed salmon has also turned up in endangered killer whales on the West Coast.

Dr. Peter Ross

* FROM AUG. 10, 2004: Fire retardant found at higher levels in farmed salmon

The chemical, polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), is used as a flame retardant – and is found in everything from carpets to computers.

Dr. Peter Ross, of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' Institute of Ocean Sciences, is one of the authors of the new report. He says PBDEs are similar to PCBs.

"We did ban PCBs 30 years ago for these very same qualities," says Ross, a leading expert in marine mammal toxicology.

PCBs are a known threat to the 85 killer whales that live in the waters between Vancouver and Seattle. Ross says this new chemical could push them closer to extinction.

"We've now discovered they have detectable levels of a new generation of flame retardants – PBDEs – similar to PCBs, but we have not regulated them," he says.

The chemicals were found in samples of orca blubber taken between 1993 and 1996. Ross says the levels are probably much higher now.

Across the border, Washington State is fine-tuning its plan to clean up PBDEs in the environment. But Canada still has no regulations to deal with the problem.

Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, of the People for Puget Sound, says it's time Canada did something, because the chemicals don't restrict themselves to one side of the border.

"We can do all we can here in Washington state, but if Canada continues to allow these chemicals out into the environment, the orca whales that feed up there are going to be just as contaminated," she says.

Ottawa is expected to have a policy in place this winter. But the critics say the ubiquitous compound will continue to spill into the whales' environment for years to come.

Copyright © 2004 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved

Threatened by the throngs?

Tourist boats bring attention (and maybe trauma) to orcas

By Ian Ith
Seattle Times staff reporter

SAN JUAN ISLAND — Teams of spotters on land and by sea fan out every morning to scan the waters off San Juan Island. It's only a matter of time before the scouts of a multimillion-dollar industry spot the majestic killer whales that are its lifeblood.


With military efficiency, a coded message triggers dozens of electronic pagers from Everett to Victoria, B.C. Whale-watch operators scramble their speedy boats toting tourists clutching cameras and brochures promising "Whales Guaranteed!"

And a buzzing, for-profit armada moves out to intercept the beloved orcas.

Joining the race this summer day is skipper Tom McMillan, who motors his 36-foot cruiser, Stellar Sea, north from Snug Harbor. "It's going to be crazy out here," he grumbles.

The transient orcas puffing along Stuart Island are the only whales spotted that day. And McMillan's 14 passengers, some from Southern California, paid $55 each to see whales, not just ride around in his 430-horsepower boat.

And if he doesn't get to the whales, someone else will.

His industry has tripled in the last 15 years, to the point that the orcas of Puget Sound are now relentlessly tracked all summer long, seven days a week. But now some island locals and orca advocates, dismayed by what they see as a noisy assault on the pods, are pushing a radical cutback in the whale-watching business.

They point to recent studies that suggest the whale-watch fleets may be hurting Puget Sound's three resident orca pods, which have struggled enough in the past decade that the federal government is considering listing them for Endangered Species Act protection.

McMillan and other whale-watch operators, backed by other local orca scientists, reject notions that whale watching is harmful, instead maintaining that it has helped orcas by raising public interest. At the same time, some of those same folks, including some veteran skippers such as McMillan, are starting to wonder whether it's getting out of hand.

These days, Canadian operators, using fast, inflatable crafts packed to the gunwales with tourists, greatly outnumber their American colleagues. And it's all virtually unregulated, instead largely governed by strict-but-voluntary self-policing — with sharply debated effectiveness.

"They're going to have to start doing something, and say, 'Look, no more,' " said McMillan, who has been a leader in the local industry since he started 12 years ago.

"Something's going to have to give."

More boats, less to see
There are now as many whale-watching boats regularly combing the waters off San Juan Island as there are orcas that live here.

STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Whale-watching tours from Victoria, B.C., use high-speed inflatable boats to carry tourists to and from the whales. Scientists say they have tallied 83 boats that make regular whale-watching tours this year. About 60 percent of them are operated by Canada.But as the industry has boomed in the past eight years, the population of southern resident orcas, a specific subgroup of orcas that stay in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca most of the year, has declined at an alarming rate.

The population fell from 98 southern residents in 1995 to 78 in 2001. This year, scientists count 83 orcas spread among three pods called J, K and L.

The state recently added the pods to its endangered-species list, mostly a symbolic gesture. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is considering a petition to put the southern residents on the federal endangered-species list, which would pack more regulatory punch.

But no decision is imminent. Meanwhile, the whales are protected from "harassment" by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

In 1990, about 25 whale-watch boats motored around the San Juans. Then in 1993 came the hit movie "Free Willy," starring Keiko the killer whale. And all bets were off.

By 1995 nearly 50 whale-watch boats were on the water regularly, split evenly between Canadian and U.S. operators, according to counts done by San Juan Island whale scientists. In 2000, there were more than 75.

This year, scientists say they have tallied 83 boats that make regular whale-watching tours, of which about 60 percent are Canadian.

Voluntary rules
Whale-watch operators on both sides of the border insist they have the best interests of the whales in mind.

"We want to make sure the whales stay around here and are healthy and happy," said Jim Dale, owner of Five-Star Charters of Victoria and secretary of the Whale Watch Operators Association Northwest. "That's our livelihood."

San Juan Island resident Jerry Riley volunteered to put a sign on his beach aimed at grabbing the attention of whale watchers, some of whom come within yards from the shore at his home.More than 10 years ago, the association, to which most operators belong, created a series of "best practices guidelines," which have been strengthened repeatedly.

The current rules call for boats to stay 100 yards from resident whales and one-eighth mile from more easily-spooked transients, a separate subgroup of orcas that eat marine mammals instead of salmon and don't stay in one place long.

And operators have agreed to stay one-quarter mile off San Juan Island's western shore.

But many island residents have become more vocal in their complaints, suggesting the self-rule system is failing.

From his beachfront home fronting Haro Strait, Jerry Riley often can sit on his porch and watch orcas hunting a hundred yards away.

But with the orcas invariably come the whale-watching boats, Riley said. Within minutes they race across the strait, outboard motors roaring and loudspeakers blaring. The hubbub draws curious private boaters, who either don't know, or don't care, about unenforceable industry guidelines, Riley complains.

"It's hard to be moderate about it, because when you see it, it makes you so angry," he said. "It's people trying to please their customers, and it's people competing with one another. It's gotten so carried away."

Riley complained to boat companies that they were breaking their own rules. He said he got the brush. So last month he and about 10 neighbors contacted a local group called Orca Relief Citizens' Alliance. The group gave them big banners, which they posted on their beaches, facing the tourists: "Protect Whales. Watch from Shore."

Riley said he knows people may dismiss him as having a raging case of not-in-my-back-yard syndrome.

"But this is not an elitist effort," he said. "It's about somebody trying to raise the issue. If you stood here on a Saturday afternoon and saw these whale boats do what they do, it would make you want to throw up."

Research warnings
Orca Relief is headed by Mark Anderson, a wealthy tech-industry investor and consultant, and Birgit Kriete, a whale scientist who has been a fixture in the orca community for 25 years. Together, they have been pointing to increasing research that suggests whale boats don't just bother the orcas, they may threaten their survival.

Kriete's own research contends that orcas expend as much as 19 percent of their energy when boats are around because they get stressed out and have to go out of their way to avoid the noise.

Other recent research has made similar findings.

Two years ago, a University of Washington study found that boat noise could be drowning out the whales' natural echolocation senses, making it harder to find their way around and harder to hunt for food.

Last spring, a study published in the British journal Nature offered evidence that increasing boat noise is forcing southern resident orcas to lengthen their vocal calls to communicate above the racket.

"These are animals with sensitive hearing being surrounded by 30 or 40 outboard motors," Anderson said. "It's like studying wolves in the wild on a set of 50 Harleys."

Anderson and Kriete are advocating a rollback to 1990 levels through limited whale-watching permits. That would put about 60 whale boats out of commission.

The group's ideas have been received with venom by many whale-boat operators. But on San Juan Island, the group has gathered some 1,500 signatures on a petition for a ban on "chasing" the whales.

Trouble is, San Juan County has no jurisdiction to regulate whale watching. The practice is governed by federal rules and international maritime laws and treaties.

So for now, the group is hoping the banner campaign, along with fliers redirecting people to Lime Kiln State Park on the island's west shore, colloquially called "whale-watch park," will raise awareness with the out-of-town tourists.

"I think people are well-intentioned, and if they really knew what they were doing to whales, they wouldn't go, they'd boycott it," Anderson said.

But the position has been a hard sell even among many of those closest to the orcas.

"It's easy to look out there and see a lot of boats and say nature is being violated, but that's not the case," said Ken Balcomb, a 30-year whale scientist who runs the Center for Whale Research on the island. "The operators out there are behaving far more respectfully than they were 10 years ago."

No federal rules planned
Though orcas are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the law is vague toward whale watching.

The NMFS has no plans to impose rules on the San Juan whale-watch industry because it hasn't accepted any proof that whale boats hurt the whales. "We just don't know enough right now," said Brian Gorman, a NMFS spokesman in Seattle.

But it is looking into the possibility.

On a hillside high above San Juan Island's South Beach late last month, David Bain, a noted UW whale researcher, stood for hours in a chilly downpour in hopes that an orca or two would pass below.

Funded by NMFS, Bain has been using computerized surveying scopes to track the precise paths of southern resident orcas to compare how they behave with and without boats around. Though he hasn't yet tracked enough whales to publish a study, so far Bain has found that the orcas veer subtly off their normal routes when boats arrive.

An earlier NMFS study of northern resident orcas, which can be found along the shores of Vancouver Island, found similar behavior changes.

The changes are small, Bain grants, but he estimates that the resident orcas are wasting up to 5 percent of their energy every year just avoiding noisy boats. That's significant, he says, because the animals already struggle to get enough food.

Even so, Bain rejects the idea of a whale-watching rollback, though he would probably support a cap at current levels. "If I were a whale-watch operator, I wouldn't want to be put out of business based on the data available right now," he said.

Bain, Balcomb and others stress that the whales have much greater problems, from heavy pollution to depleted salmon stocks.

"Whales need public support to deal with all their issues, and whale watching provides that public support," Bain said. "Making whale watching a scapegoat isn't going to help a whole lot."

"They're like bees"
Aboard the Stellar Sea, McMillan joined about 24 commercial boats, including the huge Victoria Clipper III, and a handful of private boats in a holding pattern around the foraging transient orcas.

Most boats were following the rules, killing their motors and bringing a sort of calm on the water as the orcas breached majestically to the cheers and gasps of the tourists.

Still, a few Canadian inflatables were revving their high-pitched outboards and darting in for closer looks.

"They're like bees," McMillan said. "But everyone's actually doing a pretty good job today, with as many boats as there are."

McMillan turned to whale watching about 1992, just before the "Free Willy" craze. Lately, though, it's been harder and harder to compete with the growing Canadian tourist industry, which thrives on volume and speed.

Though he agrees with Bain that the market should probably be capped, he worries about efforts to roll it back. Who would choose which operators to put under? What about the noise from private boaters and other commercial shipping?

And he remains unconvinced that his little boat is killing the orcas that still make his eyes light up after 12 years of shadowing them.

"If they could prove I was hurting whales, I'd quit — I'd quit today," he said, starting the engine to follow the transients as they moved off toward Vancouver Island.

"But I'd like to think I'm showing people whales and getting them interested and maybe they'd want to help them."

Ian Ith: 206-464-2109 or iith@seattletimes.com

Future of Whale Watching

http://www.vanaqua.org

Contrary to popular belief, whale watching is not a modern phenomenon in British Columbia. First Nations peoples in B.C. have co-existed with abundant populations of whales, dolphins and porpoises for over the 10,000 years; they produced a wide variety of art and legend depicting cetaceans, and certainly would have spent time watching whales.

Even early European settlers were involved in whale-watching much earlier than many people realise. In the early 1900s, tours running from Vancouver to Bowen Island took place aboard steamers operated by J.A. Cates, manager of the Terminal Steamship Company. They focused on a population of approximately 100 humpback whales inhabiting the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound.

While a whaling fleet using boats with oars and sails and hand-thrown harpoons sporadically hunted this population as early as the 1860s, the modern hunting techniques available by 1907 quickly began to decimate the population. In 1907, Captain Cates wrote his Member of Parliament in protest of the Pacific Whaling Company’s hunting of humpback whales in Howe Sound:

“It is only natural to say that everything that lives should be allowed a certain amount of protection, and I might say that by the extermination of these whales from the waters of Howe Sound it would seriously interfere with our Local Trade, as during each year there are hundreds of tourists and others from all over the world who come to Vancouver and engage passage on our boats especially to see the whales in Howe Sound.”

The language of Cates’ letter is remarkable in its call for conservation and the way it echoes the sentiments of many modern day whale-watching companies, desiring protection for whales both as a matter of conscience and as a valuable resource.

A more recent example of whale-watching companies getting involved in conservation efforts comes from Robson Bight on northern Vancouver Island, where northern resident killer whales engage in beach rubbing during July and August.

In the late 1970s, forestry company MacMillan Bloedel was logging the upper Tsitika watershed that drains into Robson Bight and developing plans to utilize the bight as a log dump. Meanwhile, Bill Mackay and Jim Borrowman were operating a diving charter turned whale-watching company that often visited Robson Bight to watch northern resident killer whales. Mackay and Borrowman now own and operate Mackay Whale Watching and Stubbs Island Whale Watching respectively.

Beach rubbing is a phenomenon unique to northern resident killer whales, and many of the known rubbing beaches they use are near Robson Bight. Realizing that if Robson Bight became an area for log booming this activity would be severely disrupted, Borrowman, Mackay, other locals, and researchers lobbied policy makers to protect Robson Bight as an Ecological Reserve (part of the provincial parks system).

In response to these efforts, BC Parks established Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve in 1982. The reserve is now a 1248-hectare marine park protected as key habitat for northern resident killer whales with a 505-hectare upland buffer zone.

In 1987, with the continued support of the North Vancouver Island whale-watching and research community, the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve developed a successful water-based education program and land-based monitoring program to mitigate the effects of disturbance and noise caused by whale-oriented boat traffic in the area. These programs continue today.

Whale watching today

Since its revival in the early 1980s, modern whale watching has become a big industry in British Columbia. More than 50 companies now offer dedicated whale-watching tours, bringing in revenues of over 10 million dollars a year in direct expenditures. As well, many other tour operators such as kayaking guides and sport fishing lodges and charters offer incidental whale-watching experiences (with fishing or other activities as the main focus of the trip).

The three main whale-watching centers in B.C. are Victoria (focusing on southern resident killer whales but occasionally or seasonally targeting gray, humpbacks, minke whales and porpoise), Tofino (focusing primarily on gray whales, but also targeting killer and humpback whales) and North Vancouver Island (focusing primarily on northern resident killer whales, but also targeting humpback and minke whales, Dall’s porpoise and Pacific white-sided dolphins).

Whale watching in each of these areas has had both beneficial and detrimental impacts on cetaceans. Across B.C., whale-watching companies support photo identification research, population and acoustic studies and a variety of other research projects. Since 1980, millions of people have learned about cetaceans’ natural history, habitat, and threats on whale-watching trips. In 1998 alone, 215,000 people took a whale-watching tour in BC.

Changes in attitudes towards cetaceans have been spurred to a great extent by public exposure to cetaceans provided by aquariums, the whale-watching industry and the media. Where people once regarded cetaceans as a source of products such as oil, they now see them as being intrinsically important. This change in attitudes means that there is increased public support for conservation initiatives that benefit cetaceans.

The explosion of interest in whale watching since the mid-1980s has also had negative effects on cetaceans. Industry growth has been particularly dramatic in the transboundary region of Haro Strait, where both Canadian and American whale-watching boats compete for good spots to view whales. At times more than 50 vessels, both commercial and recreational, may follow asingle group of 10 to 20 whales (the dubious record is of 107 boats following a single group of killer whales in Haro Strait).

While commercial whale-watching vessel operators are necessarily aware of the whale-watching guidelines and generally follow them, many private recreational vessel operators are not familiar with the guidelines, leading to significant disturbance of cetaceans due to the proximity and noise of these vessels.

While the impact of whale-watching on cetaceans is orders of magnitude less than the impact of whaling, there are still many concerns that vessels are having significant impacts on species that are already at-risk due to their small population numbers as a result of whaling, habitat destruction, high levels of toxins from PCB’s, dioxins, and other pollutants, and limited food supply.

The recognition of the potential impacts of whale watching has led to the establishment of several vessel monitoring and education programs. BC Parks began protecting killer whale habitat at Robson Bight in 1987, with the establishment of a warden program for the ecological reserve.

In 1993, Soundwatch, based out of the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island began monitoring whale-watching activity and educating boaters on whale-watching guidelines in the Haro Strait and Juan de Fuca Strait. In 2001, the Veins of Life Watershed Society based in Victoria received funding from the Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP) for Species at Risk to operate the Marine Mammal Monitoring Program (a program similar to Soundwatch) in the transboundary region.

In 2002, the Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Interpretive Centre Society began operating a similar program called Straitwatch that is also funded by HSP. Straitwatch operates in the waters of Johnstone and Queen Charlotte Straits off Northern Vancouver Island and works closely with the Robson Bight Warden Program.

While it seems intuitive that both the presence and noise of vessels would have a negative impact on the ability of cetaceans to carry out their normal life processes, there is, at present, a relatively small body of research on this topic. Several short-term studies of vessel impacts on a few species have shown interference with communication, prey detection, feeding and changes in distribution.

Although few long-term studies have been undertaken, there is concern that whale watching may have long-term conservation implications. As many species of whales naturally congregate in certain areas due to favourable habitat characteristics, whale watchers tend to focus their efforts in these same areas, meaning these whales will be vulnerable to repeated disturbance in areas important to their survival which would likely result in long term conservation effects.

When whale watching was in its infancy in BC in the late 1980s, killer whale researchers made recommendations for killer whale watchers to remain a distance of 100 metres away from killer whales. This recommendation reflected their impressions of the distance at which killer whales behaviour changed based on their years of experience working in boats around these animals.

The 100-meter recommendation was tested in 1995 and 1996 by Rob Williams (Williams et.al. 2002) at the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve using an experimental vessel in cooperation with local whale-watching charter operators who agreed to stay away from animals being studied. The study attempted to identify behavioural changes in killer whales that were approached at a distance of 100 meters.

The results showed that these whales traveled in an unpredictable path and changed speed indicating they were attempting to avoid the experimental vessel. The study recommended 100 metres as a minimum distance to observe whales and that a guideline of less than 100 metres would result in much higher levels of disturbance.

Further, the study showed that vessels that placed themselves in the path of whales (and broke the whale-watching guidelines) resulted in much higher levels of disturbance and recommended against this practice of “leapfrogging” by whale watchers.

This summer, with the support of the whale-watching operators of north Vancouver Island, another study at Robson Bight is examining the effects of multiple vessels on the behaviour of northern resident killer whales.

In the coming year, Canada will very likely see the whale-watching guidelines become whale-watching regulations. This will provide clarification to whale-watching companies, pleasure craft operators and others of what is acceptable behaviour to help avoid the type of prosecutions two whale watch companies (one US and one Canadian) experienced this past year.


Whale Watching Guidelines

1. BE CAUTIOUS and COURTEOUS: approach areas of known or suspected marine mammal activity with extreme caution. Look in all directions before planning your approach or departure.
2. SLOW DOWN: reduce speed to less than 7 knots when within 400 metres/yards of the nearest whale. Avoid abrupt course changes.
3. AVOID approaching closer than 100 metres/yards to any whale.
4. If your vessel is unexpectedly within 100 metres/yards of a whale, STOP IMMEDIATELY and allow the whales to pass.
5. AVOID approaching whales from the front or from behind. Always approach and depart whales from the side, moving in a direction parallel to the direction of the whales.
6. KEEP CLEAR of the whales’ path. Avoid positioning your vessel within the 400 metre/yard area in the path of the whales.
7. STAY on the OFFSHORE side of the whales when they are traveling close to shore. Remain at least 200 metres/yards offshore at all times.
8. LIMIT your viewing time to a recommended maximum of 30 minutes. This will minimize the cumulative impact of many vessels and give consideration to other viewers.
9. DO NOT swim with or feed whales.

These guidelines were developed in consultation with the Whale Watch Operators Association North West, Friday Harbor Whale Museum, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, DFO researchers, the DFO Pacific Marine Mammal Co-ordinator, the US National Marine Fisheries Service, and other researchers.


Source: BC Cetacean Sightings Network



References

Hoyt, E. 2001. Whale Watching 2001: Worldwide tourism numbers, expenditures, and expanding socioeconomic benefits. International Fund for Animal Welfare, Yarmouth Port, MA, USA.

Soundwatch

Whale Watch Operators Association Northwest

Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Committee 1991. Background Report. JSKWC, Vancouver.

Lien, J. 2001. The Conservation Basis for the Regulation of Whale Watching in Canada by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans: A Precautionary Approach. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2363: vi -38.

Spalding, D. (1999). Whales of the West Coast. Harbour Publishing.

Webb, R.L. 1988. On the Northwest: Commercial Whaling in the Pacific Northwest, 1790 – 1967. University of British Columbia Press, Vancouver.

Williams, R. 2003. Cetacean studies using platforms of opportunity. Unpublished PhD. Thesis, St. Andrews: University of St. Andrews.

Williams, R., Trites, A.W. and Bain, D.E. 2002. Behavioural responses of killer whales to whale-watching traffic: opportunistic observations and experimental approaches. Journal of Zoology 256:255-70.

Take action on Luna!

ReuniteLuna.com

Sign the petitian

September 02, 2004
http://www.reuniteluna.com

Luna, the lone, friendly orca of Nootka Sound, is in trouble and needs help. Sensational news stories which focus on his encounters with boats have recently been published worldwide. They make much of the fear Luna has aroused in a few boaters. As a result, some people have called for Luna to be sent to an aquarium, or even killed.

Those options are neither acceptable nor necessary.

Numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in the Luna saga for three years believe there is no need to send this intelligent, exuberant being into a life of captivity, or to shoot him. There are far better choices.

Luna’s friendliness towards people is unusual, but it is not unique. Whales and dolphins are sociable beings, and in the absence of their own kind they seek or accept substitutes, including humans. Most stories about “solitaries” have disastrous endings. However, research shows that consistent programmes using boats with trained personnel to monitor the situation and prevent inappropriate human interactions are very successful in protecting both people and solitary whales and dolphins.

Fortunately for Luna, the Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) have at last agreed to establish a full-time monitoring presence on the waters of Nootka Sound. We believe that such a presence is vital for Luna’s survival. However, we are very concerned that the level of funding committed by the DFO is inadequate to support what is needed. Given the urgency of the need, we hereby announce our willingness to assist in raising funds, and contribute equipment, volunteers, and scientific expertise to help make that effort successful.

Months of research we recently conducted on Luna’s behavior clearly indicate that he behaves pretty much like other orcas. He is a great hunter and he has a fabulous voice. He is not, in other words, abnormal. He is healthy, strong, playful. Certainly, he is missing the rich social life he would normally get from his family and community, but it is unfair to characterize him as “malicious” or to use words like “attack” in stories about him.

We believe that in the short term a strong monitoring and enforcement programme will help address the immediate problems in Nootka Sound.

Additionally, we strongly urge that all organizations and individuals who care about Luna work together toward reuniting him with his family as soon as possible.

The Southern Resident community of orcas, to which Luna belongs, is also in serious trouble. Many of its members were captured in the 1970s for public display, and their numbers have declined significantly over the last decade. They are currently listed as endangered in Canada and in Washington State. Today their numbers stand at just 83.

Being endangered, Luna’s community needs him. As a social creature, Luna needs his community. “Resident” orcas are among the most social beings on the planet. Individuals spend their entire lives within the family (“matriline”) to which they are born. Luna’s voice clearly identifies him as a member of the “L2” matriline, named after his grandmother. Knowing this, we fully expect that if Luna and members of his family hear one another, they will reunite.

This opinion is based on over 30 years of orca observation, as well as the success of Springer, another solitary orca who was moved from the Seattle area to her home waters of northern Vancouver Island in 2002. Springer was welcomed back into her great aunt’s matriline soon after her relocation. She is still with this family today, and has largely lost interest in boats.

Last spring, before DFO’s attempt to capture Luna in a net, we spent time and money attempting to achieve a more natural reunion, in which Luna would have been led towards his pod if it came near Nootka Sound. First Nations approved our efforts. That attempt did not succeed, because Luna’s pod did not come near Nootka Sound. However, we believe that such a natural reunion should be attempted again this fall, when Luna’s pod travels back to the north.

This approach to reuniting Luna with his family simply holds the door open and offers him a choice. Orcas can hear each other through many kilometers of ocean, so if Luna’s pod passes Nootka Sound it would be simple to offer him choice by leading him just a short distance. That lead-out might best be conducted by First Nations paddlers who have already established a powerful bond with Luna.

The Mowachaht-Muchalaht believe that Luna chose to come to Nootka Sound. He may choose to remain in Nootka Sound. But the door should not be closed on giving him the option of rejoining his family whenever opportunities occur. Our conviction remains that Luna’s survival depends on him reuniting with his orca community.

A natural reunion will rely on both planning and luck. In order to improve the odds, Luna’s pod should be tracked this fall as it leaves its summer waters. It will not be easy to accomplish this, but for Luna’s sake it should be tried. The effort could also provide critical information that will help the recovery of the endangered Southern Resident population. We therefore urge DFO, the US National Marine Fisheries Service, and others to make the required effort. We also urge the Mowachaht-Muchalaht people, who have shown courage and resolve in protecting Luna’s freedom, to give him the additional freedom of choice if the opportunity arises.

As Chief Mike Maquinna said in a speech to his paddlers shortly before they took to their canoes to prevent Luna’s capture: “It’s not about us. It’s about the whale.”

Petitions supporting Luna’s reunion, and urging DFO and First Nations to work together to protect Luna in the meantime, are at www.reuniteluna.com and www.anon.org.

Ryan Lejbak
www.reuniteluna.com

This opinion is supported by:
Anon.org
Center for Whale Research
Earth Island Institute International Marine Mammal Project
Free Willy Keiko Foundation
Luna Stewardship Project/Veins of Life Watershed Society
Orca Conservancy
orcagirl.com/ocean-society.com
Orca Network
OrcaLab/Pacific Orca Society
The Humane Society of the US
The Whale Museum/Soundwatch 

Canada's Sewage Report Card results

Embarrassingly low grades for coastal cities; Victoria suspended
Hundreds of billions of litres of toxic, raw sewage still dumped into Canada's lakes, rivers and oceans each year

September 8 2004

VICTORIA, BC - Sierra Legal released its third National Sewage Report Card today that evaluates how cities across Canada treat and manage their sewage. Prepared for the Georgia Strait Alliance (GSA), Labour Environmental Alliance Society, and T Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation, the report reveals that Canada's coastal cities continue to lag behind the rest of the country, and highlights Canada's ineffective treatment of sewage issues.

"More than a decade after our National Sewage Report Card first brought attention to the abysmal level of sewage treatment in many cities across Canada, billions of litres of raw sewage continue to flow into our lakes, rivers and waterways each day," said Sierra Legal staff lawyer Margot Venton. "As Canadians, we should be embarrassed that major cities like Victoria and Montreal continue to dump enormous amounts of sewage laden with toxic chemicals into local waterways without any treatment whatsoever."

The report evaluates twenty-two cities and assigns them a letter grade based on the quality of their sewage treatment as determined by various criteria including level of treatment, volume of raw sewage discharged and their progress since the last report in 1999.

Although some cities examined in the report have made substantial progress, the lack of discernible improvement in many cities was alarming. Of the twenty-two cities documented in the report, six (Victoria, Dawson City, Montreal, Saint John, Halifax and St. John's) continue to dump some or all of their sewage without any treatment. These six municipalities alone generate a total of 400 million litres of raw sewage per day - over 4,600 litres every second.

The highest grades in the third National Sewage Report Card went the cities of Edmonton, Calgary and Whistler, which are treating virtually all of their sewage at the highest (tertiary) level. The communities of Dawson City, Halifax and St. John's improved their previously poor grades by making significant commitments to upgrade treatment levels in coming years. At the bottom of the class were Montreal, which fails for continuing to dump 3.6 billion litres of raw sewage into the St Lawrence River each year, and the City of Victoria, "suspended" for being the only major city in Canada that still discharges all of its sewage raw and has not taken steps to improve in a meaningful way.

"While communities like Halifax and St John's have finally recognized that sewage treatment is a necessity, not a luxury, the City of Victoria continues to rely on the absurd assumption that dumping more than 34 billions of litres of raw sewage into our local waterways each year does not harm the environment," said Jim McIsaac of the T. Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation.

The report provides several recommendations, including increasing efforts to prevent harmful pollutants from entering the sewer system in the first place and replacing environmentally harmful chlorine disinfection with safer alternatives.

"It is simply shocking that the toxic soup we call sewage is regularly being dumped into our lakes, rivers and oceans," said Christianne Wilhelmson of GSA. "In addition to the organic matter and microorganisms you generally associate with raw sewage, today sewage contains hundreds of toxic harmful chemicals such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants and PCBs."

"Unlike the United States or European Union, Canada has no national standards for sewage treatment," said Sierra Legal staff scientist Dr. Elaine MacDonald. "As a result of our patchwork approach, Canada has fallen well behind. To begin catching up, Canada must create national standards for sewage treatment, and these standards should be consistently and equitably enforced throughout the country."

The report also calls for federal and provincial funding to ensure proper treatment facilities are built in all communities in Canada and for research and development of safer sewage treatments, including effective methods for safe disposal of sewage sludge.

Copies of the Report and a Media Backgrounder are available for download at: www.sierralegal.org. A full summary of Report Card grades and French versions of these materials are also available.

For further information please contact:

Sierra Legal:
Margot Venton (604) 685-5618 ext 245, cell (604) 313-3132
John Werring (604) 685 5618 ext 232, cell (604) 328-1633
GSA: Christianne Wilhelmson (604) 633-0530, cell (604) 787-7166
LEAS: Mae Burrows (604) 669-1921, (604) 526-1956
T. Buck Suzuki: Jim McIsaac (250) 360-1398

Coastal cities worst sewage polluters

Canada's coastal cities worst sewage polluters, says report card

Dirk Meissner

Canadian Press

Wednesday, September 08, 2004


CREDIT: CH News

Margot Venton, Sierra Legal Defence Fund

VICTORIA (CP) -- Canada's port cities rank among the world's worst offenders when it comes to spewing billions of litres of stinking and dangerous untreated sewage into open waters, says a report released Wednesday by environmental groups.

Victoria, Montreal, Saint John, Halifax, Charlottetown and St. John's continue to use their surrounding waters as large toilet bowls to discharge their filth -- human waste and toxic chemical cocktails -- with little or no sewage treatment, says the report that graded 22 cities across Canada.

The report was compiled by the Sierra Legal Defence Fund on behalf of the Georgia Strait Alliance, the Labour Environmental Alliance Society and the T. Buck Suzuki Foundation.

Calgary, Edmonton and Whistler were issued top marks by the environmental groups for upgrading their sewage systems to full 100 per cent tertiary treatment.

Quebec City, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Toronto and Brandon were among other Canadian cities that received improved grades for major improvements to their sewage treatment systems over the past three years.

"The casual assumption that whatever we pour down the drain and flush down the toilet is suitably treated before being released into the environment is false," the report said.

Many of Canada's sewage systems are dumping grounds for all manner of wastes and must be cleaned up, the report said.

An Environment Canada spokesman said Ottawa and the provinces are working toward developing a joint waste water treatment program by 2006.

"All the provinces and territories have agreed to work on that," said Claude Fortin, chief of the municipal waste water effluent division.

"Then we could have those national standards," he said. "We could all agree as to how we should manage this sector."

Environment Canada will regulate the proposed national standards, Fortin said.

The report found Victoria's sewage outfalls discharged 2,920 tonnes of oil and grease, nine tonnes of copper and 2.5 tonnes of cyanide into the ocean over a two-year period.

Lead, silver, mercury and other potential harmful chemicals were also found in the Victoria discharges.

Tests on effluent from treated sewage in Toronto in 2003 found a soup of chemicals, the study said.

"We're still failing to meet standards that they would have in the United States and Europe," Margot Venton, a spokeswoman for the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, said at a news conference.

Montreal, which received an F grade, dumps 3.6 billion litres of raw sewage into the St. Lawrence River annually.

Dawson City, Yukon, received an E grade because it continues to discharge one billion litres of raw sewage annually. But the E is an improvement over its previous F grade because the tiny community is awaiting funding to upgrade its sewage treatment.

Victoria didn't even rank a letter grade due to its decision to continue dumping 34 billion litres of untreated sewage into the ocean each year, the report said.

"It's time something were done about it," said Peter Ronald of the Vancouver Island-base Georgia Strait Alliance.

Victoria residents are polluting their own waters, he said.

Killer whales and seals already have high levels of potential deadly compounds like PCBs, he said.

"These toxic chemicals play havoc with sea birds, mammals and other sensitive marine life and ultimately are consumed by humans through the fish and shellfish we eat," the report said.

But a Victoria sewage system spokesman said the report card neglects to mention the steps Victoria has taken to prevent harmful chemicals from entering the city's sewer.

Every business and industry in the Victoria area must ensure chemicals and other harmful chemicals don't end up in the sewer system, said Igor Zahynacz, the region's environmental services manager.

Victoria plans to release a report within the next year that will show how its strategy has cut the amount of harmful materials in the sewer system, he said.

"You can see interest groups presenting points from the particular perspective, but it misses whole parts of the liquid waste management plan and the initiatives that we are doing," Zahynacz said.

The environmental groups said all Canadians are entitled to safe and efficient sewage treatment, national standards and adequate funding for sewage treatment.

Sierra Legal Defence Fund release
© Canadian Press 2004