By Marlena Skrobe

There are only 74 endangered southern resident killer whales left – a 35 year low – and the population has not had a successful birth since 2015. As their numbers dwindle, we find ourselves asking: Is this what extinction looks like? Or will we take bold and immediate actions to help save iconic creatures that we have struck with our vessels, poisoned with PCBs, starved by constructing dams and altering their habitat, and even captured for our entertainment?

In response to their decline Governor Jay Inslee signed Executive Order 18-02 on March 14, 2018 directing state agencies to take immediate actions to advance the protection of the southern resident killer whales (SRKW).  The executive order also established a Task Force responsible for identifying priority actions and recommendations to recover the southern resident killer whale population. The 45 Task Force members responsible for drafting this report include American and Canadian government officials, representatives from Washington tribes, federal and local agencies, and members of the private and non-profit sectors. After months of meetings, specialized working group efforts, and heated debates over contentious issues, the Task Force released a final draft of 36 recommendations on Friday, November 16. The recommendations tackle major threats such as prey availability, toxic contaminants, habitat destruction, oil spill prevention, noise reduction, and vessel traffic disturbances.

While the Task Force worked through the summer to build a consensus around the set of recommendations the whales sent a clear and desperate message. A 20-year-old mother, Tahlequah(J35), carried her dead calf for an unprecedented 17 days over 1,000 miles and another southern resident, Scarlet (J50), was presumed dead after intense international efforts by veterinarians, biologists, and the Lummi Nation to help feed and treat the emaciated four-year-old.

People have spoken out in response to these tragic events, submitting over 12,700 online public survey comments regarding the Task Force recommendations. Members of the public attended the October 17^th and November 6^th Task Force meetings and passionately spoke for more to be done. Some chanted “Breach the Snake River Dams! Breach the Snake River Dams!” Others worried that these recommendations will affect their livelihoods or their ability to benefit from the southern resident population.

Watching the process, we were struck by the differences of opinion that emerged, and the difficulties of coming to consensus given the various livelihoods that will ultimately be affected. One of the most controversial recommendations is a 3 to 5-year suspension on commercial and recreational whale watching. Some see this recommendation as an easy political move, but others see it as a chance for the whales to finally breathe cleaner air while getting some peace and quiet. The whales’ decline is likely due to a combination of factors and many agree that other efforts will be futile if we do not increase availability of their preferred prey: Chinook salmon.

While some recommendations could be implemented by the governor through executive action, others will require a longer legislative process, and it’s clear that the beloved southern residents need change now if they are going to survive. If implemented, the Task Force recommendations will hopefully begin to help southern residents and improve the overall health of the Puget Sound. Perhaps while we wait for action to be taken we can reflect on our own lifestyles and evaluate personal changes we can make now to benefit the whales and the overall health of the Salish Sea . Are we only willing to just make easy lifestyle changes or are we ready to take on the difficult challenges in order to preserve the Puget Sound? We need to do more to protect the place so many of us – human and animal – call home.

You can read the final list of recommendations at: https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/OrcaTaskForce_reportandrecommendations_11.16.18.pdf?fbclid=IwAR13_kxTHGdt4McCzcqUKA1L8MngukY4Wm0RT2NwIi4pXPfCOfR_C9yTygc