NOAA Fisheries Service listed the Southern Resident killer whales as endangered under the Endangered Species (ESA) on Nov. 18, 2005. The agency identified vessel effects, including physical interference and sound, as a potential contributing factor in the population’s decline. Before the ESA listing, NOAA Fisheries Service had designated Southern Residents as a depleted stock under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Both the MMPA and the ESA prohibit take, including harassment, of killer whales, but these statutes do not prohibit specified acts. The recovery plan for Southern Resident killer whales includes as a management action the evaluation of current vessel guidelines and the need for regulations and/or protected areas.
July 3, 2007: Public comments on potential vessel regulations
April 2007: PowerPoint on vessel effects presented at public meetings (PDF 702KB)
Mar. 22, 2007: The Northwest Region opened a public comment period on potential regulations to protect killer whales in Washington State from the effects of various vessel activities. The comment period closed June 20, 2007.
2003 Workshops on Factors Affecting Killer Whales
