New rules proposed
Whales could be given wider berth
PHOTO BY KELLY RUHOFF Some new rules proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) could prohibit vessels from approaching any killer whale closer than 200 yards and forbid vessels from intercepting or parking in the path of a whale.
In addition, the proposed regulations would set up a half-mile-wide no-go zone along the west side of San Juan Island from May 1 through the end of September where no vessels would be allowed.
Proposed by NOAA's Fisheries Service to protect the resident killer whales in Puget Sound, these large marine mammals were added to the endangered species list in late 2005.
"The idea here is to give these remarkable animals more real, meaningful protection," said Barry Thom, acting head of the agency's Northwest regional office. "Without it, we would undercut the hard work we are all doing to recover the species by improving Puget Sound's water quality and recovering salmon, the killer whale's primary food," Thom said.
The fisheries agency said there would be exemptions to the rules for some vessels, including commercial fishing vessels, cargo vessels traveling in shipping lanes, and research vessels.
The no-go zone would also have limited exceptions for landowners accessing private property.
While the southern resident whales are also threatened by degraded water quality and lack of food supply, primarily salmon, biologists have known for years that vessel traffic also contributes to their low numbers.
The whales, which depend on highly sophisticated sonar to navigate and find food, can be affected by underwater noise from boats that approach too close or block their paths.
The whale population peaked at 97 animals in the 1990s and then declined to 79 in 2001. It currently stands at 85 whales.
The agency's plan for their recovery, released in early 2008, calls for actions to reduce disturbance from vessels. If adopted, the earliest the rule would take effect would be May 2010.
NOAA will hold public meetings Sept. 30 in Seattle and Oct. 5 in Friday Harbor for people to learn more about the proposed rules. The public comment period closes Oct. 27. Proposed regulation and comments are posted at www.nwr. noaa.gov.
NOAA manages coastal and marine resources of the U.S.
For information see the Web site at www.noaa.gov.
