Analyzing Vessel Interactions Surrounding Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca)-‐ Summer 2011
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Date
2011Author
Ulmke, Alexandra
Koski, Kari
Thistle, Susan
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Show full item recordAbstract
As
global
biodiversity
continues
to
decline
greater
attention
is
being
paid
on
ways
law
can
be
a
mechanism
to
advance
conservator
efforts.
Currently,
southern
resident
killer
whales
are
listed
as
‘endangered’
under
the
endangered
species
act.
Comprising
a
population
of
88
individuals
it
has
been
shown
that
disturbance
by
vessels
may
affect
key
behaviors
and
mask
echolocation,
which
is
critical
for
foraging
and
communication.
Within
the
Puget
Sound,
Southern
Residents
are
exposed
routinely
to
commercial
whale
watching,
and
vessel
interaction
has
been
listed
as
a
contributing
factor
to
their
endangered
status.
The
National
Oceanic
and
Atmospheric
Administration
implemented
federal
vessel
regulations
in
April
2011
with
include
a
no
parking
in
the
path
of
whales’
restriction
and
a
200-‐yard
buffer
between
vessels
and
whales.
Within
May
through
September
2011
Soundwatch
collected
data
pertaining
to
the
number
of
vessels,
the
types
of
these
vessels,
and
any
observed
incidents.
What
was
found
that
on
average
12
boats
surround
this
population
on
a
daily
basis,
with
a
maximum
of
62
boats.
These
boats
mostly
comprise
of
commercial
whale
watching
operations
with
6
boats
on
average.
Of
the
2,500
incidents
that
were
private
boaters
committed
58%,
followed
by
the
commercial
industry
with
21%.
The
top
incidents
that
were
committed
were
being
within
200
yards
and
100
yards
of
the
whales,
and
being
inshore
of
whales.
As
NOAA
seeks
to
revise
and
enforce
these
federal
regulations
it
is
imperative
to
have
accurate
and
consistent
monitoring
on
the
water.