Chronology of Southern Resident Killer Whale (Puget Sound Orca) Actions

Nov. 26, 2012: NOAA Fisheries accepts a petition to delist Southern Resident killer whales

Apr. 8, 2011: NOAA Fisheries announces regulations to protect killer whales in Washington State from the effects of various vessel activities

Mar. 17, 2011: NOAA Fisheries determines that no change is needed in endangered ESA listing status of Southern Resident killer whales

Apr. 6, 2010: NOAA Fisheries requests input on five-year review of Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing for Southern Resident killer whales 46kb

July 2009-January 2010: NOAA Fisheries takes public comments on proposed vessel regulations and holds meetings

July 29, 2009: NOAA Fisheries proposes regulations to protect killer whales in Washington State from effects of various vessel activities 271kb

Jan. 24, 2008: NOAA Fisheries releases final ESA Recovery Plan for Puget Sound killer whales 50kb

Mar. 22, 2007: NOAA Fisheries requests input on potential regulations to protect killer whales from effects of various vessel activities 59kb

Nov. 29, 2006: NOAA Fisheries proposes ESA recovery plan for Southern Resident killer whales 49kb

Nov. 29, 2006: NOAA Fisheries designates final ESA critical habitat for the Southern Residents 1.2MB

June-August 2006: NOAA Fisheries takes public comments on proposed critical habitat and holds meetings

June 15, 2006: NOAA Fisheries proposes ESA critical habitat for the Southern Residents 6.9MB

Nov. 18, 2005: NOAA Fisheries lists Southern Resident killer whales as "endangered" under the ESA 86kb

Oct. 3, 2005: NOAA Fisheries releases Proposed Conservation Plan for Southern Resident Killer Whales 46kb

December 2004-March 2005: NOAA Fisheries takes public comment on its proposed ESA listing determination, holds meetings and hearings, and conducts peer review

Dec. 22, 2004: NOAA Fisheries proposes "threatened" ESA listing for Southern Resident killer whales 91kb

Dec. 17, 2003: As a result of a court challenge brought by original petitioners seeking listing status for the killer whales, NOAA Fisheries is told by federal court to reconsider process by which it determined ESA listing eligibility and to make new finding by Dec. 17, 2004

May 29, 2003: NOAA Fisheries declares Southern Resident killer whales "depleted" under Marine Mammal Protection Act ( 47kb) and begins work on conservation plan for them, which is essentially identical to "recovery plan" that would be required if they'd been listed under the ESA

July 1, 2002: NOAA Fisheries determines that while population of Southern Residents is falling and the whales are in trouble, they don’t meet standards for protection under the ESA. ( 56kb) Because of the way scientists classify all killer whales as a single world-wide species, Southern Residents don’t meet criterion of biological "significance" and thus cannot be listed. At the same time, NOAA Fisheries says that it will start process to declare Southern Residents "depleted" species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act

Aug. 13, 2001: NOAA Fisheries formally accepts ESA listing petition and begins process to determine if these killer whales qualify for protection 73kb

May 2001: Center for Biological Diversity petitions NOAA Fisheries to list Southern Resident killer whales under the Endangered Species Act