A bill intended to protect resident orcas in the Salish Sea has been passed in the Washington State Legislature and is waiting for Governor Jay Inslee to sign it.
According to komonews.com, Senate Bill 5371 establishes a larger setback distance for vessels from the southern resident orcas and it passed the state house with bipartisan support.
The distance that boats must keep from the whales would be increased to 1,000 yards and there are exemptions listed. The bill also emphasized education and raising boaters’ awareness of the importance of giving space to the mammals.
The report stated that the southern killer whale population is at its lowest in decades at 73. To minimize disturbing the whales, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recommended the 1,000-yard buffer. The organization’s research has found that when vessels come closer than his distance to the whales, they stop hunting for food. Mother whales have reportedly stopped feeding their young if a vessel approaches within 400 yards.
The bill will also modify the commercial whale-watching business license fees and enforcement provisions regarding unlawful commercial whale watching. The state’s current regulations require boats to stay at least 300 yards from the southern resident killer whales and at least 400 yards from the path in front of and behind the whales. State law already prohibits vessels from coming within 1,000 yards of southern resident orcas between October and June.
