Question Period Note: Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW)

Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW)

• The Government is committed to the protection and recovery of the iconic and culturally significant Southern Resident killer whales.
• Through initiatives included in the $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan, the $167.4 million Whales Initiative, and the further $61.5 million for Southern Resident killer whale recovery, we have taken significant steps to address key threats to these whales.
• In 2019, additional measures were taken to focused on increasing prey availability and reducing physical and acoustic disturbance.
• Canada will continue to work in consultation with coastal communities, environmental and industry stakeholders and Indigenous groups on implementing measures for the continued protection of killer whales.

• Two distinct populations of resident killer whales, known as the Northern and Southern Residents, occupy the waters off the west coast of British Columbia.
• In 2001, COSEWIC designated Southern Resident killer whales as ‘endangered’, and Northern Resident killer whales as ‘threatened’. Both populations are listed in Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). These two populations are acoustically, genetically and culturally distinct. Southern Resident killer whales are also listed under the US Endangered Species Act as endangered.
• In May 2018 Ministers of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change determined that Southern Resident Killer Whales are facing imminent threat to their survival and recovery.
• In May 2019, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and the Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Canada announced a series of protection measures, including:
o Sanctuaries prohibiting most forms of vessel traffic in key foraging areas and additional salmon fishing closures in other parts of key foraging areas. These closures are intended to increase prey availability and access for the whales and reduce disturbance from fishing vessels.
o Increased approach distance to 400 metres for all killer whales within Southern Resident killer whale critical habitat.
o Increased compliance and enforcement through on-the-water and aerial surveillance.
o Protection of critical habitat for SRKW off the southwest coast of Vancouver Island.
o Voluntary slowdowns of shipping traffic through Haro Strait and a trial lateral displacement of some commercial vessel traffic within shipping lanes to reduce noise in key foraging areas.
• The Southern Resident killer whale population is currently 73 individuals. It is considered to be at risk because of its small population size, low reproductive rate, and the existence of a variety of anthropogenic threats that have the potential to prevent recovery or to cause further declines.
• Due to its small population size, Southern Resident killer whale recovery can also be impacted by other threats that may affect only a few individuals, such as mortality in fishing gear, collisions with vessels, disease and parasitism.
• Actions on many of the recovery measures identified in the resident killer whale recovery strategy are underway.
• DFO conducts a considerable amount of scientific research on resident killer whales (e.g. population dynamics, photo ID, habitat use, movements, contaminants, foraging ecology, etc.), and will continue to work on better understanding the threats to these population.

Socio-Economic Impacts of Protection Measures
• The Government is committed to working thoughtfully and collaboratively with First Nations and marine stakeholders to promote the recovery of the Southern Resident killer whale population.
• The measures that have been implemented reflect the commitment to recover the population in a manner that takes into account important socio-economic and cultural factors and input from First Nations and coastal communities.
• The Government looks forward to continuing this collaboration as we implement the best and most effective means to reduce threats to the survival of the Southern Resident killer whale population.

Population Status
• This population is considered to be at risk because of its small population size, low reproductive rate, and the existence of a variety of anthropogenic threats that have the potential to prevent recovery or to cause further declines.
• Canada has taken significant steps to help mitigate key threats to the Southern Resident killer whales.
• Effectively protecting and recovering the Southern Resident killer whales will require a long-term approach that requires whole of government coordination and the active collaboration of many partners.