In May 2003, NOAA Fisheries Service designated the Eastern North Pacific Southern Resident stock of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Puget Sound as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The agency also announced preparation of a conservation plan to restore the stock to its optimal sustainable population.
Soon after NOAA Fisheries Service released the proposed conservation plan for Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW), the agency listed these orcas under the Endangered Species Act. The ESA requires preparation of a recovery plan. The Northwest Region took the proposed MMPA conservation plan, addressed comments on it, and incorporated ESA elements into a proposed ESA recovery plan, which was released for comment in November 2006. We incorporated comments and new research results and references, and finalized the SRKW recovery plan.
* Recovery Plan Implementation *
Jan. 24, 2008: The Northwest Region released a final ESA Recovery Plan for Puget Sound killer whales.
Mar. 22, 2007: The Northwest Region announced a public comment period on potential regulations to protect killer whales from the effects of various vessel activities. The proposed recovery plan includes as a management action the evaluation of current vessel guidelines and the need for regulations and/or protected areas.
2003 Workshops on Factors Affecting Killer Whales
Links to other conservation efforts that support killer whale recovery:
Canada's Killer Whale Recovery Strategy
Puget Sound Partnership
Shared Strategy (prey)
Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan (prey)
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