Protecting Southern Resident orcas: What role do new regulations play?
As we approach July, whale watch boats are waiting to see whether they'll be permitted to approach any endangered Southern Resident orcas after stricter rules were put in place during the 2021 season.
Tokitae's health improving, locals hope it opens the door to her return home
Feared to be deathly ill, Tokitae – an orca plucked from the Salish Sea in 1970 – is on the mend, according to veterinarians.
Recreational boaters fined for getting too close to endangered Southern Resident orcas
NOAA has announced two fines for recreational boaters, including one – lowered to $2,700 after the boater admitted liability – after boaters were caught on camera operating too close to endangered Southern Resident orcas.
Newest J Pod calf is a female, offering hope for endangered Southern resident population
The Center for Whale Research confirmed on May 26 that the new calf born to the J Pod is a female, offering a glimmer of hope for the endangered Southern resident orca population.
Noise pollution harms endangered orcas, scientists are rushing to find solutions
Scientists are rushing to learn more information about noise pollution in our local waters, while more vessels are projected to travel the Salish Sea in the coming years.
Research on noise pollution in Puget Sound underway
Work to track underwater noise pollution continues of Puget Sound as endangered southern resident orcas continue to struggle.
Saving PNW salmon may involve saving another fish too, scientists say
Hundreds of millions of dollars have gone into salmon recovery, and more work is needed. Now, scientists are asking the question: Could saving a smaller, less recognizable fish, be one of the keys to their recovery?
Possible new calf identified in K Pod, first since 2011
The Center for Whale Research (CWR) says it has been made aware of a video that shows what appears to be a young calf in the resident southern orca K Pod.
Scientists are zeroing in on best practices to save endangered PNW salmon
It started with a simple question: Why are salmon dying in the Salish Sea? The answer, as it turns out, would pull scientists from 60 organizations in a variety of directions.
New orca offers hope, as experts race to save PNW's most iconic residents
FOX 13 looks at the progress of the Governor's Orca Task Force, and the current status of the Southern Resident Killer Whales.
New calf J59 born to endangered southern resident orcas
A new calf was born to J pod of the southern resident orcas, an endangered population of killer whales.
Russian invasion changes crucial PNW salmon project plans
Russia’s attack on Ukraine is having ripple effects across the world, including a multi-million dollar salmon research project that scientists hope will unlock key answers for the Pacific Northwest.
Questions about endangered orca’s health could renew fight to return her to Puget Sound
It’s been decades since Tokitae was taken from Puget Sound. The endangered orca, the sole survivor of the 1970 captures in Penn Cove, currently lives at the Miami Seaquarium. For the past several decades Lummi Nation, scientists and animal activists have tried to bring her home.
Scientists deploy buoy in Puget Sound to measure noise, risks to orcas
Scientists aboard the King County research vessel ‘SoundGuardian’ Tuesday deployed a buoy that will monitor underwater noise in Puget Sound – which poses risks to our southern resident orca population.
Lummi Nation declares 'disaster' after removing over 70K invasive crab species
The Lummi Indian Business Council has passed a resolution last week declaring a disaster as they deal with an invasive grab species in the Lummi Sea Pond, according to the Tacoma News Tribune.
Southern Resident grandmother orca dead
The Center for Whale Research has declared an orca in one of the Puget Sound’s endangered Southern Resident killer whale pods dead.
Officials urge boaters to steer clear of 3 pregnant Orcas
Three endangered Southern Resident killer whales living near the Washington coast are pregnant, prompting boating regulations in the state, officials said on Monday.
Baby whale in J-Pod unwell, rule issued to keep boaters away
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued an emergency rule ordering commercial whale watch tours to stay farther away from an unwell baby orca to help her survive.
New federal rule protects southern resident orcas down coast
A federal rule that went into effect July 30 expands protected habitat for the endangered southern resident orcas down the West Coast.
Oldest male in Southern Resident orca KPod presumed dead
An orca is presumed dead after being found in distress last week in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a body of water that separates Washington state from Canada, officials said.