NOAA Fisheries Service listed the Southern Resident killer whales as endangered under the Endangered Species (ESA) on Nov. 18, 2005. The agency identified vessel effects, including physical interference and sound, as a potential contributing factor in the population’s decline. Before the ESA listing, NOAA Fisheries Service had designated Southern Residents as a depleted stock under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
Both the MMPA and the ESA prohibit take, including harassment, of killer whales, but these statutes do not prohibit specified acts. The recovery plan for Southern Resident killer whales includes as a management action the evaluation of current vessel guidelines and the need for regulations and/or protected areas.
Oct. 16, 2009; Comment Period Extension: NOAA has extended the deadline for submitting comments on proposed vessels regulation to protect killer whales in Puget Sound to Jan. 15, 2010.
We recognize that by extending the public comment period, we won't have enough time to issue a final rule before the 2010 summer boating season. We continue to believe that it's important to address the adverse effects of vessel traffic on killer whales in the near future. In light of the requests we've received for an extension of the comment period, however, we believe additional public outreach will enhance both NOAA Fisheries' understanding of public concerns and the public’s understanding of the basis for our proposal. This will also allow time for cooperative efforts to refine the proposal. We'll work toward adoption of a final rule before the 2011 summer boating season.
We'll consider all comments and information received during the comment period in preparing a final rule.
See the Federal Register notice, below, for more information; or contact Lynne Barre, 206-526–4745. Scroll down the page to see the proposed rule and associated documents.
Public Meetings: The Northwest Region held public meetings on the proposed vessel regulations, below, so people could learn more about them and provide comments. The meetings were held in Washington State in 2009 on Sept. 24 in Anacortes; Sept. 30 in Seattle; and Oct. 5 in Friday Harbor.
July 28, 2009: The Northwest Region announced proposed regulations to protect killer whales in Washington State from the effects of various vessel activities.
