June is Orca Action Month–a perfect moment to spend some time learning about the local killer whales with which we share our home. SeaDoc has developed some great resources about orcas, including several great episodes of our web series Salish Salish Sea Wild and a seven-episode podcast series all about the plight and conservation of Southern Residents. Find more about what’s happening throughout June on the Orca Action Month site!
Has Piecemeal Destruction of Endangered Killer Whale Habitat Violated the Law?
Southern Resident Killer Whales are severely endangered and human actions have fueled this decline. At what point does such degradation cross the legal threshold into destruction, introducing our own legal obligation to respond in accordance with the Endangered Species Act?
From depleted salmon populations to increased vessel disturbance and contaminated waters, a recent SeaDoc-funded paper suggests we may have already crossed that threshold into illegal destruction.
Salish Sea Wild: Salmon of the Skagit River
Salmon are born in freshwater and migrate to sea, where they feed and grow before returning to their mother stream to breed and die. Along the way they feed everything from endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales to bugs, bears and the forest itself.
Salmon are the cornerstone of our ecosystem, but many runs are in grave danger, particularly the wild Chinook. In this episode of Salish Sea Wild, Dr. Joe Gaydos takes a swim up the Skagit River to get a close-up look at these amazing fish. Written and produced by Bob Friel and SeaDoc Society.
How Studying a Small Fish Species Could Lead to Healthier Shorelines
SeaDoc Society is excited to fund a project that will study the effects of pollution on surf smelt embryos, which could not only improve conservation of the species, but also our ability to measure pollution in general.
Surf smelt are small fish that play a huge role in the food chain, serving as a key food source for sport fish, including the salmon that feed the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. Similar to other forage fish including Pacific herring and sand lance, surf smelt spawn near the shore in areas most vulnerable to land-based pollution.
The SeaDoc Society’s latest funded research project will focus on surf smelt habitat, which is being increasingly encroached upon by urban development. There are currently no monitoring methods for assessing the role of contaminants on the health of this important fish.
Advising on Whale Watch Guidelines & Bridging the Gap Between Science & Policy
Last week, our Science Director, Joe Gaydos, presented to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission about an upcoming decision they face concerning new whale watching guidelines.
Like most of SeaDoc's science-based work, our efforts are integrated and layered to be more effective at driving conservation. Here’s how how something like this presentation (which you can read in full here) comes about and how it can help drive change:
Killer Whale Health Database Gets Another Round of Support from Microsoft Azure
We’re thrilled to announce that Microsoft Azure has once again extended their support of our ongoing creation of the Killer Whale Health Database through their AI For Earth program. The database, which aims to house a wealth of valuable health data, is currently being developed by The SeaDoc Society and the National Marine Mammal Foundation.
The AI For Earth grant, which was initially awarded to SeaDoc in 2018, offers Microsoft Azure’s cloud-computing platform and assistance with artificial intelligence computing tools for comprehensive data analysis.
Help Our Lost Killer Whale Find the Salish Sea (VIDEO)
Only 5% of Washingtonians and 14% of British Columbians know what the Salish Sea is. So we did what any good scientific organization would do and hit the streets of Seattle while wearing a killer whale costume to see if they know the name of the sea right in their backyard. Could they help our orca find the Salish Sea?
Salish Sea Wild: The Scoop on Southern Resident Killer Whales
In this episode, Team SeaDoc works with scientists trying to save the Salish Sea’s most iconic and endangered species: the Southern Resident killer whale. The goal is to collect critical health and diet data from each of the 73 surviving animals. So how does a wildlife veterinarian make a house call to do non-invasive medical tests on 10-ton killer whales in the open sea? It takes sharp eyes and a fine mesh net.
How boat noise affects Southern Resident Killer Whales - Joe Gaydos
SeaDoc Society Science Director Joe Gaydos speaks about SB 5577 (Orca whales/vessels) to the Washington Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Committee on Feb 12th, 2019. Watch Joe’s statement below:
Want to call your legislator and share your thoughts about Southern Resident Killer Whale recovery? Do it today!
The Economic Impact of Killer Whales in the Salish Sea
The Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) is a flagship species, a cultural icon, and an economic driver for Washington State. However, depleted Chinook salmon stocks, vessel-related noise and disturbance, and increasingly polluted waters put the orca population at risk of extinction. Efforts are underway to aid and support orca recovery, but these efforts are time consuming and expensive.
Ensuring the Future of Pacific Herring in the Salish Sea
Herring are a small fish that play a big role up the food chain, and at the moment scientists don’t know nearly enough about their health status in the Salish Sea. That’s why SeaDoc funded a study that helped bring many top herring experts together for the first time–a crucial first step in ensuring their future.
The team recently published a report, “Assessment and Management of Pacific Herring in the Salish Sea: Conserving and Recovering a Culturally Significant and Ecologically Critical Component of the Food Web,” which included the creation of a model that simulated how herring populations respond to key environmental stressors under various scenarios.