Killer whale (Orcinus orca) northern and southern resident: action plan

Table of contents

• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Executive summary
• 1. Recovery actions
  • 1.1 Context and scope of the action plan
  • 1.2 Measures to be taken and implementation schedule
• 2. Critical habitat
  • 2.1 Identification of the species’ critical habitat
    • 2.1.1 General description of the species’ critical habitat
  • 2.2 Activities likely to result in the destruction of critical habitat
  • 2.3 Proposed measures to protect critical habitat
• 3. Evaluation of socio-economic costs and of benefits
• 4. Measuring progress
• 5. References
• Appendix A: Effects on the environment and other species
• Appendix B: Record of cooperation and consultation
• Appendix C: Teams and processes contributing to the action plan

List of tables

• Table 1. Measures to be undertaken by Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Table 2. Measures to be undertaken collaboratively between Fisheries and Oceans Canada and its partners
• Table 3. Measures that represent opportunities for other jurisdictions, organizations or individuals to lead

Resident Killer Whale

Final

2017

Recommended citation:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2017. Action Plan for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Action Plan Series. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. v + 33 pp.

For copies of the Action Plan, or for additional information on species at risk, including Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Status Reports, residence descriptions, recovery strategies, and other related recovery documents, please visit the SAR Public Registry.

Cover illustration: Graeme Ellis

Également disponible en français sous le titre
« Plan d'action pour les épaulards (Orcinus orca) résidents du nord et du sud au Canada »

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, 2017. All rights reserved.
ISBN 978-0-660-06992-0
Catalogue no. CW69-21/27-2016E-PDF

Content (excluding the illustrations) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source.

Preface

The federal, provincial, and territorial government signatories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996) agreed to establish complementary legislation and programs that provide for effective protection of species at risk throughout Canada. Under the Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29) (SARA), the federal competent ministers are responsible for the preparation of action plans for species listed as extirpated, endangered, or threatened for which recovery has been deemed feasible. They are also required to report on progress five years after the publication of the final document on the Species at Risk Public Registry.

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Minister responsible for Parks Canada Agency are the competent ministers under SARA for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale and have prepared this Action Plan to implement the Recovery Strategy, as per Section 47 of SARA. In preparing this Action Plan, the competent ministers have considered, as per Section 38 of SARA, the commitment of the Government of Canada to conserving biological diversity and to the principle that, if there are threats of serious or irreversible damage to the listed species, cost-effective measures to prevent the reduction or loss of the species should not be postponed for a lack of full scientific certainty. To the extent possible, this Action Plan has been prepared in cooperation with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Transport Canada, the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Coast Guard, Natural Resources Canada, the Province of British Columbia, and the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as per section 48(1) of SARA.

As stated in the preamble to SARA, success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions and actions set out in this Action Plan and will not be achieved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada or any other jurisdiction alone. The cost of conserving species at risk is shared amongst different constituencies. All Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing this Action Plan for the benefit of the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale and Canadian society as a whole.

Under SARA, an action plan provides the detailed recovery planning that supports the strategic direction set out in the recovery strategy for the species. The plan outlines recovery measures to be taken by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada and other jurisdictions and/or organizations to help achieve the population and distribution objectives identified in the recovery strategy. Implementation of this action plan is subject to appropriations, priorities, and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations.

Acknowledgements

This Action Plan was prepared by Sheila J. Thornton (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region). The development of the Action Plan was the result of collaborative efforts and contributions from many individuals and organizations. The Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale Action Plan Team (Appendix C) compiled the contributions from DFO Science, the Northern and Southern Killer Whale Prey and Disturbance workshop (March 8-10, 2011), preliminary public consultations (January 19 to February 16, 2012), the NOAA/DFO bilateral workshop series on The Effects of Salmon Fisheries on Southern Resident Killer Whales (September 21-23, 2011, March 13-15, 2012 and September 18-20, 2012), and feedback obtained during public consultation on the draft (March 3 to April 16, 2014) and proposed (June 14 to August 15, 2016) versions of the document.

Executive summary

The Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) were listed as Threatened and Endangered, respectively, under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2003. This Action Plan is considered one in a series of documents that are linked and should be taken into consideration together, including the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) status report, a recovery potential assessment, and the Recovery Strategy.

Three distinct ecotypes of Killer Whale inhabit the waters off British Columbia, each exhibiting different prey preferences, dialects and social organization. The Resident, Offshore, and Transient (Bigg’s) Killer Whale ecotypes are believed to be socially and genetically isolated, despite sharing the same waters. Resident Killer Whales feed exclusively on fish (primarily salmon) and cephalopods, while Transient (Bigg’s) Killer Whales feed primarily on marine mammals. Offshore Killer Whales are the least understood of the three ecotypes, but are believed to primarily consume fish, with shark species comprising a significant portion of their diet.

Two distinct populations of Resident Killer Whales occupy the waters off the west coast of British Columbia. The populations are referred to as the Northern Residents and Southern Residents, and although the ranges of these two populations overlap, they are acoustically, genetically and culturally distinct from each other. Killer Whale populations in British Columbia are presently considered to be at risk because of their small population size, low reproductive rate, and the existence of a variety of anthropogenic threats that have the potential to prevent recovery or to cause further declines. Even under the most optimistic scenario (human activities do not increase mortality or decrease reproduction), the species’ low intrinsic growth rate means that the time frame for recovery will be more than one generation (25 years).

Principal among the anthropogenic threats to recovery are reductions in the availability or quality of prey, environmental contamination, and both physical and acoustic disturbance. As these threats are common to all three ecotypes, the measures identified in the Resident Killer Whale Action Plan are highly likely to benefit Transient (Bigg’s) and Offshore Killer Whale populations that frequent Canadian Pacific waters.

This Action Plan outlines measures that provide the best chance of achieving the population and distribution objectives for the species, including the measures to be taken to address the threats and monitor the recovery of the species. The recovery strategy defined the population and distribution objective for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale as:

Ensure the long-term viability of Resident Killer Whale populations by achieving and maintaining demographic conditions that preserve their reproductive potential, genetic variation, and cultural continuity¹.

Section 1.2 outlines the measures to be taken under the following broad strategies:

• Monitor and refine knowledge of Resident Killer Whale population and distribution in Canadian Pacific waters
• Ensure that Resident Killer Whales have an adequate and accessible food supply to allow recovery
• Ensure that disturbance from human activities does not prevent the recovery of Resident Killer Whales
• Ensure that chemical and biological pollutants do not prevent the recovery of Resident Killer Whale populations
• Protect critical habitat for Resident Killer Whales and identify additional areas for critical habitat designation and protection

For the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale, critical habitat was identified to the extent possible, using the best available information, in Section 8 of the Recovery Strategy. The species’ critical habitat is protected from destruction by a SARA Critical Habitat Order made under subsections 58(4) and (5), which invokes the prohibition in subsection 58(1) against the destruction of the identified critical habitat (Section 2.3).

An evaluation of the socio-economic costs of the Action Plan and the benefits to be derived from its implementation is provided in Section 3.

1. Recovery actions

1.1 Context and scope of the action plan

The Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) were listed as Threatened and Endangered respectively under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2003. This Action Plan is part of a series of documents regarding the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale, including the COSEWIC Status Report (COSEWIC 2009), and the Recovery Strategy that should be taken into consideration together. Under SARA, an action plan provides the detailed recovery planning that supports the strategic direction set out in a recovery strategy for the species. A recovery strategy also provides background information on the species and its threats and critical habitat information.

Two distinct populations of fish-feeding ‘resident’ Killer Whales (Orcinus orca), known as the Northern and Southern Residents, occupy the waters off the west coast of British Columbia. Although the ranges of these two populations overlap, they are acoustically, genetically and culturally distinct from each other. Resident Killer Whale populations in British Columbia are presently considered to be at risk because of their small population size, low reproductive rate, and the existence of a variety of anthropogenic threats that have the potential to prevent recovery or to cause further declines. Principal among these anthropogenic threats are reductions in the availability or quality of prey, environmental contamination, and both physical and acoustic disturbance. Even under the most optimistic scenario (human activities do not increase mortality or decrease reproduction), the species’ low intrinsic growth rate means that the time frame for recovery will be more than one generation (25 years).

The Southern Resident Killer Whale population experienced declines of 3% per year between 1995 and 2001, and since then has shown little recovery, having 80 members in 2016. During the summer and fall, Southern Residents are primarily found in the transboundary waters of Haro Strait, Boundary Pass, the eastern portion of the Juan de Fuca Strait, and southern portions of the Strait of Georgia. This area is designated as ‘critical habitat’ based on consistent and prolonged seasonal occupancy. Some members of the population typically remain in the same general area in winter and spring, but others appear to range over much greater distances, and have been reported as far south as Monterey Bay, California, and as far north as Southeast Alaska. Winter and spring critical habitat has not been identified for the latter group. During the summer and fall, the principal prey of Southern Residents appears to be Chinook and Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and O. keta); little is known of their diet in the winter and spring.  The lack of information about winter diet and distribution of the Southern Residents is a major knowledge gap that impedes our understanding of the principal threats facing the population.

The Northern Resident Killer Whale population experienced a decline of 7% between 1997 and 2001. The population has since increased from 219 members in 2004, to 290 members in 2014 (Towers et al, 2015). Northern Residents appear to spend the majority of their time from central Vancouver Island (both west and east coasts) and northwest to Dixon Entrance, but have been sighted as far south as Grays Harbor, Washington, and as far north as Glacier Bay, Alaska. A portion of the population is regularly found in Johnstone Strait and southeastern portions of Queen Charlotte Strait (and adjoining channels) during the summer and fall, and this area is identified as critical habitat based on this consistent seasonal occupancy. Other areas are likely very important to Northern Residents during this time but they have yet to be clearly identified. Similarly, areas that may constitute critical habitat during the winter and spring are not yet known. Northern Residents also appear to feed primarily on Chinook and Chum Salmon during the summer and fall. However, like Southern Residents, very little is known of their winter distribution and diet, and this knowledge gap must be addressed to fully understand the principal threats affecting the population.

The recovery strategy defined the population and distribution objective for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale as:

Ensure the long-term viability of Resident Killer Whale populations by achieving and maintaining demographic conditions that preserve their reproductive potential, genetic variation, and cultural continuity².

Under Section 47 of SARA, the competent minister must prepare one or more action plans based on the recovery strategy. Therefore, action planning for species at risk recovery is an iterative process. The Implementation Schedule in this Action Plan may be modified in the future depending on the progression towards recovery.

1.2 Measures to be taken and implementation schedule

Success in the recovery of this species is dependent on the actions of many different jurisdictions; it requires the commitment and cooperation of the constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions and measures set out in this Action Plan.

This Action Plan provides a description of the measures that provide the best chance of achieving the population and distribution objectives for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale, including measures to be taken to address threats to the species and monitor its recovery, to guide not only activities to be undertaken by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, but those for which other jurisdictions, organizations and individuals have a role to play. As new information becomes available, these measures and the priority of these measures may change. Fisheries and Oceans Canada strongly encourages all Canadians to participate in the conservation of the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale through undertaking measures outlined in this action plan.

Principal among the anthropogenic threats to recovery are reductions in the availability or quality of prey, environmental contamination, and both physical and acoustic disturbance. As these threats are common to all three ecotypes, of the 98 measures identified to recover Resident Killer Whales, 63 (64%) are likely to benefit Transient (Bigg’s) and Offshore Killer Whale populations that frequent Canadian Pacific waters.

Table 1 identifies the measures to be undertaken by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to support the recovery of the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale.

Table 2 identifies the measures to be undertaken collaboratively between Fisheries and Oceans Canada and its partners, other agencies, organizations or individuals. Implementation of these measures will be dependent on a collaborative approach, in which Fisheries and Oceans Canada is a partner in recovery efforts, but cannot implement the measures alone.

Table 3 identifies the remaining measures that represent opportunities for other jurisdictions, organizations or individuals to lead for the recovery of the species, as all Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing this Action Plan. If your organization is interested in participating in one of these measures, please contact the Species at Risk Pacific Region office at sara@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Implementation of this action plan is subject to appropriations, priorities, and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations.

2. Critical habitat

2.1 Identification of the species’ critical habitat

2.1.1 General description of the species’ critical habitat

Critical habitat is defined in SARA as

“…the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed wildlife species and that is identified as the species’ critical habitat in a recovery strategy or in an action plan for the species.” [s. 2(1)]

Also, SARA defines habitat for aquatic species as

“… spawning grounds and nursery, rearing, food supply, migration and any other areas on which aquatic species depend directly or indirectly in order to carry out their life processes, or areas where aquatic species formerly occurred and have the potential to be reintroduced.” [s. 2(1)]

Critical habitat for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale is identified to the extent possible in Section 3.1 of the Recovery Strategy (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2011). The Recovery Strategy also contains details about the identified critical habitat including geographic location and biophysical functions, features and attributes. The critical habitat identified in the Recovery Strategy is insufficient to achieve the species’ population and distribution objectives. There are likely other areas that are necessary for survival or recovery of Killer Whales, and studies are underway to identify further areas of habitat necessary for the survival and recovery of these populations.

2.2 Activities likely to result in the destruction of critical habitat

Examples of activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat may be found in Section 3.2 of the Recovery Strategy.

2.3 Proposed measures to protect critical habitat

Under SARA, critical habitat must be legally protected from destruction within 180 days of being identified in a recovery strategy or action plan. For the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale critical habitat, a SARA Critical Habitat Order was made under subsections 58(4) and (5), which invokes the prohibition in subsection 58(1) against the destruction of the identified critical habitat.

3. Evaluation of socio-economic costs and of benefits

The Species at Risk Act requires that an action plan include an evaluation of the socio-economic costs of the action plan and the benefits to be derived from its implementation (SARA 49(1)(e), 2003). This evaluation addresses only the incremental socio-economic costs of implementing this action plan from a national perspective as well as the social and environmental benefits that would occur if the action plan were implemented in its entirety, recognizing that not all aspects of its implementation are under the jurisdiction of the federal government. It does not address cumulative costs of species recovery in general nor does it attempt a cost-benefit analysis. Its intent is to inform the public and to guide decision making on implementation of the action plan by partners.

The protection and recovery of species at risk can result in both benefits and costs. The Act recognizes that “wildlife, in all its forms, has value in and of itself and is valued by Canadians for aesthetic, cultural, spiritual, recreational, educational, historical, economic, medical, ecological and scientific reasons” (SARA 2003). Self-sustaining and healthy ecosystems with their various elements in place, including species at risk, contribute positively to the livelihoods and the quality of life of all Canadians. A review of the literature confirms that Canadians value the preservation and conservation of species in and of themselves. Actions taken to preserve a species, such as habitat protection and restoration, are also valued. In addition, the more an action contributes to the recovery of a species, the higher the value the public places on such actions (Loomis and White, 1996; DFO., 2008). Furthermore, the conservation of species at risk is an important component of the Government of Canada’s commitment to conserving biological diversity under the International Convention on Biological Diversity. The Government of Canada has also made a commitment to protect and recover species at risk through the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk. The specific costs and benefits associated with this action plan are described below.

Efforts for recovery to date

The Action Plan for this species captures activities from 2017 onwards. However, efforts for Killer Whale recovery have been underway prior to listing under SARA. Since 1973, an annual census has been undertaken to locate, photograph, and identify individual Killer Whales found in Canadian waters. Since 2002, to determine recovery status and further the understanding of distribution, abundance and seasonal occurrence of these whales, DFO’s Cetacean Research Program (CRP) has completed over 2,000 hours of dedicated ship-based surveys. In addition, collaborations with other groups, organizations and partners have provided significant advances in acoustic monitoring networks, sightings, identification methods and identification of important habitat (e.g. the BC Parks Warden Program at the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve). First Nations have contributed to recovery efforts through stewardship and guardian programs, and identification efforts. Finally, education, stewardship and enforcement programs have also contributed to recovery efforts.

Benefits

The impacts of the recovery measures in this plan on Resident Killer Whale populations are unknown but likely positive. As indicated above, Canadians value such actions for a number of reasons, including non-market benefits (i.e. existence, bequest and option values).⁶ Activities that positively affect the recovery of these species may result in positive benefits to Canadians.  

The recovery measures are also likely to provide broader benefits, as some of the threats to this species are common to other marine mammals and sea turtles. Actions that mitigate those threats may also provide benefits to other species. In addition, ocean research surveys generally collect information on other marine mammals, sea turtles and other species of interest when encountered, if feasible and appropriate. In particular, Transient and Offshore Killer Whales, as well as other species of whales may benefit from the research activities in this plan, specifically research related to acoustic disturbance and contaminants. Consequently, many of the activities identified in this Action Plan will have positive impacts on other SARA listed species and provide overall benefits to the aquatic ecosystem.

Costs

The Implementation Schedule separates recovery measures into three categories in three tables. Table 3 activities have not been assessed; while these activities are identified as important for species recovery, limited information is available in terms of participants, activities and timelines.

Very few of the identified costs are associated with recovery measures that would be completed in the short-term (1-2 years). The majority of the recovery measures will result in some level of annual costs over the anticipated timeframe for the plan (i.e. >25 years) and completion dates are not specified. This long-term level of costs is similar to expenditures in support of these species prior to this plan.

The majority of activities in the plan focus on research. The coast-wide distribution of these populations requires extensive survey effort resulting in higher costs than for more localized populations. Research and monitoring activities to reduce threats are closely linked to cooperation and engagement activities with a number of partners providing in-kind support to meetings and discussions. Education and engagement may include in-kind support from environmental organizations. Compliance promotion and enforcement activities would likely be funded through a re-allocation of existing government funds.

Cost estimates for DFO activities in Tables 1 and 2 are expected to be low ⁷. There is a high degree of uncertainty regarding cost estimates for partner contribution towards Table 2 activities. As well, the costs for Table 3 activities were not considered as information on project specifics, participants and/or timelines are not available. Annual DFO costs related to Tables 1 and 2 are low on the national scale. The inclusion of financial and in-kind costs for Canadian partners for Table 2 and 3 activities would increase the total; however, overall costs are unlikely to meet the medium threshold.6 Costs to international partners have not been included in the assessment.

While DFO is identified as the lead for several recovery measures for Resident Killer Whales, most actions are in Tables 2 and 3 which are to be undertaken collaboratively. A number of partners and collaborators are identified and/or have participated in similar activities in the past. These partners include other federal departments and agencies, environmental organizations, academic institutions and programs, First Nations and other foreign governments who may contribute financial and in-kind support. Potential funding sources for DFO costs include existing federal resources, as well as supplemental funds from annual programs such as the Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP).

4. Measuring progress

The performance indicators presented in the associated recovery strategy provide a way to define and measure progress toward achieving the population and distribution objectives. A Report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy Implementation for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada for the Period 2009-2014 is posted on the SARA registry (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2016).

Reporting on implementation of the action plan, under s. 55 of SARA, will be done by assessing progress towards implementing the recovery objectives and strategies identified in the Recovery Strategy (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2011).

Reporting on the ecological and socio-economic impacts of the action plan, under s. 55 of SARA, will be done by assessing the results of monitoring the recovery of the species and its long term viability, and by assessing the implementation of the action plan.

5. References

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2008. Estimation of the Economic Benefits of Marine Mammal Recovery in the St. Lawrence Estuary. Policy and Economics Regional Branch, Quebec 2008.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2011. Recovery Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Ottawa ix + 80 pp.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2016. Report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy Implementation for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada for the Period 2009-2014. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Report Series. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. iii + 51 pp.
• Loomis, J.B. & White, D.S 1996. Economic Benefits of Rare and Endangered Species: Summary and Meta-analysis. Ecological Economics, 18: 197-206.
• Towers, J.R., Ellis, G.M. and Ford, J.K.B. 2015. Photo-identification catalogue and status of the northern resident killer whale population in 2014. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3139: iv + 75 p.

Appendix A: Effects on the environment and other species

In accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (2010), SARA recovery planning documents incorporate strategic environmental assessment (SEA) considerations throughout the document. The purpose of a SEA is to incorporate environmental considerations into the development of public policies, plans, and program proposals to support environmentally sound decision-making and to evaluate whether the outcomes of a recovery planning document could affect any component of the environment or achievement of any of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy’s goals and targets.

Recovery planning is intended to benefit species at risk and biodiversity in general. However, it is recognized that strategies may also inadvertently lead to environmental effects beyond the intended benefits. The planning process based on national guidelines directly incorporates consideration of all environmental effects, with a particular focus on possible impacts upon non-target species or habitats. The results of the SEA are incorporated directly into the Action Plan itself, but are also summarized below in this statement.

The recovery measures are also likely to provide broader benefits, as some of the threats to this species are common to other marine mammals and sea turtles. Actions that mitigate threats to the aquatic environment (e.g. acoustic disturbance, contaminants) may also provide benefits to other species. In addition, ocean research surveys generally collect information on other marine mammals, sea turtles and other species of interest when encountered, if feasible and appropriate. All cetacean species, and Transient and Offshore Killer Whales in particular, will likely benefit from measures identified in this Action Plan. Consequently, many of the activities identified in this Action Plan will have positive impacts on other SARA listed species and provide overall benefits to the aquatic ecosystem.

Appendix B: Record of cooperation and consultation

Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales are listed as threatened and endangered respectively under SARA. As these whales occupy territorial waters off the coast of British Columbia, and have either been seen in or could possibly occupy waters administered by the Parks Canada Agency, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Minister responsible for the Parks Canada Agency are the competent ministers for these species according to SARA. DFO established a small internal working group of technical experts to develop the draft of this action plan, including individuals from Parks Canada Agency. See Appendix C of this document for a list of Technical Team members.

Initiation of the action plan development process

At the initiation of the Resident Killer Whale Action Planning process, letters, emails and faxes were sent to all coastal First Nations, inviting their participation in the development of the Action Plan.  Letters of invitation were sent to Environment and Climate Change Canada, Province of British Columbia, Department of National Defence, National Resources Canada, and Canadian Coast Guard, requesting their participation in the process. 

Action plan development

As part of the action planning process, a workshop was held on March 8-10, 2011 at Pender Island, BC to gather technical information required to develop measures for strategies related to prey availability and disturbance. Representatives from environmental groups, ecotourism industry, Canadian and United States government agencies were present.

In January and February of 2012, three public open houses and five First Nations meetings were held, and an online response form was set up to gather comments and opinions on the development of actions in support of the conservation of these two populations of Killer Whales. Feedback from these sessions was considered during the development of the first draft of the Action Plan. Public meetings were held in Victoria, Vancouver, and Port Hardy, BC. Meetings were held with First Nations in Williams Lake, Nanaimo, Campbell River, Abbotsford, and Kamloops, BC.

A series of three NOAA/DFO bilateral workshops were held in 2011-2012 to examine the effect of Chinook fisheries on Resident Killer Whales. An independent scientific panel was appointed to oversee the workshop process and report on the proceedings. These workshops were attended by scientists and technical experts, fisheries managers from United States and Canadian governments, stakeholders and environmental groups. Recommendations from this workshop informed the development of the Action Plan measures and increased the available science in support of recovery.

Action Plan Team meetings were held throughout the planning process and a draft Action Plan was developed. The draft and proposed versions of the Action Plan were reviewed by the interagency team with representatives from Transport Canada, Parks Canada Agency and the Department of National Defence prior to regional consultation.

Draft action plan regional consultation – March 3 - April 16, 2014

The public was invited to comment on the draft Action Plan for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale in Canada through the Pacific Region SARA Consultation website. Notifications of the consultation process were sent via emails to stakeholders and environmental Final Action Plan for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale 2016 31 interest groups, government contacts, all coastal First Nations, and three Wildlife Management Boards. Groups and individuals were encouraged to provide feedback through the on line discussion guides and an open invitation to comment. Discussion guides consisted of five questions; 493 discussion guide comments were received from 144 individuals. In addition to online discussion guides, ten individuals provided comments via email, and ten letters (ranging from 1 to 27 pages in length) were received as email attachments from First Nations, stakeholder organizations, ENGOs, and concerned citizens. Two First Nations requested meetings to discuss actions that may occur within their territories.

Proposed action plan national consultation – June 15 - August 14, 2016

The proposed Action Plan was posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry on June 15, 2016 for a 60-day comment period, as required under SARA. The public comment period closed on August 14, 2016.  Pre-notification letters were sent to coastal First Nations, stakeholders, and others that had requested notification as interested or affected parties.

Letter writing campaigns initiated by four environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) resulted in over 11,380 submissions. In addition to these form letters, individual letters and/or emails were received from 53 citizens, 12 letters from stakeholder organizations, two responses from First Nations, and one letter from the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance (representing over 30 Nations). Many respondents commended the Department for the changes in the Action Plan in response to the 2014 regional consultation process on the draft Action Plan. Feedback largely followed these themes: management options to support adequate and accessible prey, acoustic impacts of vessel traffic, on-water enforcement and education programs, marine mammal regulations, vessel approach distance, and roles and responsibilities with respect to contaminants.  This feedback was considered during the consultation review and the Action Plan was modified where appropriate to reflect the comments.

Appendix C: Teams and processes contributing to the action plan

Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale Action Plan Team

• Lynne Barre, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
• Lance Barrett-Lennard, Vancouver Aquarium
• Paul Cottrell, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Graeme Ellis, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• John Ford, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Jeff Grout, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Brian Reade, Parks Canada Agency
• Peter Ross, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Pippa Shepherd, Parks Canada Agency
• Sheila Thornton, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Inter-agency working group

• Paula Doucette, Transport Canada
• Leslie James, Transport Canada
• Cliff Robinson, Parks Canada Agency
• Danielle Smith, Department of National Defence
• Danielle Wensauer, Transport Canada

¹ Culture refers to a body of information and behavioural traits that are transmitted within and between generations by social learning

² Culture refers to a body of information and behavioural traits that are transmitted within and between generations by social learning

³ “Priority” reflects the degree to which the action contributes directly to the recovery of the species or is an essential precursor to an action that contributes to the recovery of the species.

• "High" priority measures are considered likely to have an immediate and/or direct influence on the recovery of the species.
• "Medium" priority measures are important but considered to have an indirect or less immediate influence on the recovery of the species.
• "Low" priority measures are considered important contributions to the knowledge base about the species and mitigation of threats.

⁴ “Timeline” is the timeframe from posting of the final document in which the measure will be accomplished. A timeline listed as “ongoing” indicates the importance that that measure be conducted regularly through the foreseeable future; “unknown” means that the current paucity or complete lack of data for a given species does not allow us to state a certain timeline at this point; “uncertain” indicates that the measure is led by a 3rd party and timelines have not yet been determined.

⁵ Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations

⁶ Non-market benefits include bequest values (the value placed on conservation for future generations), existence values (the value people place on the existence of a species) and option values (the amount someone is willing to pay to keep open the option of future use of the species).

⁷ Guidance provides scales in terms of present values, as well as annualized values. The annualized scale is: Low $0-$1 million, Medium $1-$10 million, High >$10 million. Source: Government of Canada. Guidelines for Completing Action Plan Templates (Federal). Draft (2.2.). June 2012.

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