Proposed Expansion of Killer Whale “Critical Habitat”

Recent amendments to the Recovery Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada 2018 (proposed) expand the area to be included as critical habitat. Under the recovery strategy action plan, this area will be subject to measures that respond to perceived threats to killer whale survival. The threat of “Reduced prey availability” identifies “Fishing for Chinook Salmon, Chum Salmon, and other important prey species” and “Other activities that are detrimental to habitat and survival of prey (e.g. fishing for forage fish species)” as activities likely to result in the destruction of critical habitat. The images here are from the above linked document, and show the areas proposed.

Proposed NRKW critical habitat:

Proposed SRKW critical habitat:

DFO proposes more fishing closures: feedback sought

In what DFO terms “Consultation on the critical habitat section of the draft Amended Recovery Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada”, they propose fishing closures to both Swiftsure Bank and La Perouse Bank.

A DFO public “consultation” generally occurs after they have made their plans. Nonetheless, it is in the interest of the recreational angler to voice their concerns.

For details regarding what DFO has sent out please see RKW External Review and Critical habitat section of draft Amended RS.

The DFO Regional SARA Consultation webpage is here.

We invite you to submit comments on the critical habitat section (section 7; pages 55 to 68) of the draft Amended Recovery Strategy. Note that this external review period is limited to comments on section 7 of the draft Amended Recovery Strategy. Please provide comments through DFO’s Regional SARA Consultation webpage (link above), or via email, mail or phone.

In order for your input to be considered at this stage in the Recovery Strategy amendment process, comments must be received by July 12, 2018.