Review of the Effectiveness of Recovery Measures for Southern Resident Killer Whales

Sources of Information

Table of Contents

• Complete Text
• 1.0 Context/Background
• 2.0 Objectives of this Review
• 3.0 Sources of Information
• 4.0 Methods for Assessing Effectiveness of Recovery Measures
• 5.0 Review of Recovery Measures
  • 5.1 Identified Threats and Broad Strategies
  • 5.2 A Review of Recovery Measures
• 6.0 Effectiveness of Recovery Measures
  • 6.1 Prey Availability
  • 6.2 Acoustic and physical disturbance
  • 6.3 Environmental Contaminants
  • 6.4 Ship Strike
• 7.0 Effectiveness of Recovery Measures related to Critical Habitat
• 8.0 Recommendations about priority of Recovery Measures
• 9.0 Conclusions
• 10.0 Acknowledgements
• 11.0 References
• Appendix 1

3.0 Sources of Information

The Recovery Strategy for Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales in Canada was developed in 2008 and amended in 2011 (DFO 2011). The associated Action Plan for Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales which was published in 2017 (DFO 2017a) builds on the information presented in the amended Recovery Strategy and identifies 98 specific Recovery Measures to so support achievement of the recovery goal. A subsequent report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy Implementation for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada (DFO 2016a) describes activities that were either completed or underway during the period 2009-2014. This review was informed by the information presented in these aforementioned SARA recovery documents; current scientific literature relevant to SRKWs and in particular, the threats they face; a review of recovery documents and reports from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) related to this population; relevant reports of policies and strategic initiatives related to SRKW; and information gathered in interviews with science and management staff in DFO and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).