How You Can Help the Southern Resident Orcas:
Vessel Traffic
The boundary waters of Washington state and British Columbia, Canada, are the summer home of the Southern Residents. This area, also known as the Salish Sea, is surrounded by three major metropolitan areas; Seattle/Tacoma, Vancouver, and Victoria. Shipping, pleasure boating, and whale-watching traffic are high, making the orcas subject to some of the highest vessel traffic in the world.
Although no conclusive studies show that the orcas are negatively affected by vessels, recent findings indicate that underwater noise from motorized boats likely interferes with the whales' use of sound.
What You Can Do
Consider whale watching from shore. Your presence on shore will result in the need for fewer boats around the orcas. Lime Kiln Point State Park is a popular spot to watch orcas on the west side of San Juan Island.
If you'd still rather watch whales from a boat, go with a commercial operator who is a member of the U.S./Canadian Whale Watch Operators Association Northwest. This group has established its own guidelines for whale watching that are stricter than U.S. and Canadian federal whale-watching regulations.
If you see orcas from a private boat, observe the Soundwatch Boater Guidelines. The orcas need free range in order to hunt for food, mate and rest. Continual stress from eluding too-near boats day after day may compromise the whales' health and interfere with their hunting. They also need to be able to surface for a FRESH breath of air, and not of engine exhaust. (You can print the Guidelines from the link above and take them with you.)
If you see whales from a kayak follow the Soundwatch Boater Guidelines for Paddlers and Rowers. Because kayaks are virtually silent underwater, they can startle an orca, especially one who is busy hunting for prey.
Donate to The Whale Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program. The waters surrounding the San Juans are one of the highest density whale-watching areas in the world for recreational and commercial vessels. Soundwatch's on-the-water-patrols teach boaters the least intrusive way to watch whales in the wild. Soundwatch receives no government funding, and relies completely on donations for its operating expenses.
Don't operate a personal watercraft ("Jet Ski"). In San Juan County waters this type of vessel is prohibited by law. In other waters drivers of such craft should not travel faster than 25 mph. This fast and nimble type of vessel can travel faster than most animals (including surfacing whales) have time to respond to.
Learn more about viewing marine wildlife by visiting the National Marine Fisheries Service website.
