Since 2018, the Government of Canada has taken unprecedented action to address threats to the Southern Resident killer whale and has done so in consultation and partnership with Indigenous communities and stakeholders. This includes area-based fishing closures, interim sanctuary zones, speed restriction zones, increased approach distances for vessels, enhancement of Chilliwack River Chinook salmon, scientific monitoring, pollution prevention initiatives, outreach and education, and compliance and enforcement activities. Canada will continue to take the necessary and responsible actions to protect this species.
The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honorable Diane Lebouthillier, and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honorable Steven Guilbeault, proposed additional actions to address threats to Southern Resident killer whales that build on existing measures.
The Government of Canada is proposing to:
- increase vessel approach distance for Southern Resident killer whales;
- progressively prohibit vessel discharge of washwater from scrubber systems in Southern Resident killer whale critical habitat;
- adjust salmon fishing closures for 2025 and/or 2026 in key areas where Southern Resident killer whales forage for food as needed; and,
- identify interim underwater noise objectives within the critical habitat of the Southern Resident killer whale, which will serve as benchmarks to measure noise level changes over time and guide efforts to reduce underwater noise.
As a next step, the Government of Canada will consult and engage with First Nations, Wildlife Management Boards, stakeholders, and other potentially affected parties to seek their views on the scope and implementation of these proposed measures. These discussions will help identify potential impacts on communities and stakeholders and explore ways to mitigate them where possible.
Southern Resident killer whales are long-lived and reproduce slowly. Their recovery is a long-term goal requiring sustained effort (potentially decades) and monitoring. As a protected species under Canada’s Species at Risk Act, the Government of Canada will continue to promote activities that contribute to the survival and recovery of the Southern Resident killer whale.
“The Government of Canada is committed to protecting at-risk species, including the iconic Southern Resident killer whale, which is facing imminent threats to its survival and recovery. The Government of Canada has already put in place various measures to protect the Southern Resident killer whale, but more needs to be done. Working closely with First Nations and stakeholders, we will build upon our actions to date so we can achieve a healthy future for this beloved species,” commented Honorable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
Quick Facts
- Since 2018, the Government of Canada has made significant investments to support recovery efforts and mitigate the impacts of key threats to the Southern Resident killer whale and other at-risk whales, while also enabling sustainable national economic growth through trade expansion in the waters they inhabit.
- On November 29, 2024, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change announced that they had formed the opinion that the Southern Resident killer whale faces imminent threats to its survival and recovery, and they identified three key threats to the population: physical and acoustic disturbance, reduced prey availability; and environmental contaminants.
- The species has been listed as endangered under Canada’s Species at Risk Act since 2003, and as of July 1, 2024, only 73 individuals remain.
- The range of the Southern Resident killer whale covers waters managed by Parks Canada in Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
