Reducing the threat of contaminants to Southern Resident Killer Whales

Southern Resident Killer Whales are exposed to these contaminants when they are present in their environment or through eating fish that contain contaminants. Since Southern Resident Killer Whales are at the top of the food chain, many of these contaminants accumulate in their body fat. Many contaminants are harmful to the health of whales and can cause damage to their brain and nervous system, reduce their immune system making them more susceptible to disease, and impair their reproductive capabilities.

Measures to protect Southern Resident Killer Whales

The Government of Canada is taking action by working with partners to protect Canada’s endangered whales.

In 2016, the Government launched the $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan to ensure cleaner, healthier, and safer oceans and coastlines. Part of the Plan includes measures to protect marine mammals.

In June 2018, the Government invested an additional $167 million to a dedicated Whales Initiative to protect and support recovery of three whale species, including the Southern Resident Killer Whale.

In October 2018, the Government announced an additional $61.5 million specifically for measures to strengthen protection of Southern Resident Killer Whales.

Fishery management measures include area-based fishery closures to help increase the availability of Chinook salmon and decrease noise disturbance in key whale feeding areas. Interim Sanctuary Zones prohibit vessel traffic to reduce noise and physical disturbance. To avoid disturbing whales, a mandatory vessel approach distance for killer whales is in effect during specific times and Marine Mammal Regulations continue to remain in effect year-round.

In 2018, a Contaminants Technical Working Group (TWG), led by Environment and Climate Change Canada, was created. It includes members from all levels of government, non-governmental organizations, academia, and representatives from Washington State, to help the Government of Canada determine what should be done to assist with Southern Resident Killer Whale recovery. The group identified priority contaminants of concern, developed an inventory database of contaminant releases, built a preliminary visualization tool to map contaminant sources that will be made public once complete, and developed a framework to assess the effectiveness of existing controls on contaminants. The group also reviewed existing guidelines to protect whales and their prey and identified where updates of new guidelines were needed.

The Contaminants TWG recommended long-term actions that focus on:

• enhancing regulatory controls
• monitoring and research
• sharing information and data
• expanding outreach and education

For more details, please read the 2020 Contaminants TWG Accomplishments report.

In 2022, the Contaminants TWG recommended several short-term specific actions to be taken by partners collaborating on mitigating the threat of contaminants to these whales.

The Government of Canada's contributions to implement these recommendations include:

• assessing contaminant concentrations and the health effects of contaminants on killer whales and their prey to identify those that pose the greatest threat
• increasing research and monitoring to identify contaminant sources, and how contaminants are entering aquatic environments, in order to better manage them. This includes air, sediment, and freshwater monitoring in proximity to killer whale and Chinook salmon habitats, as well as monitoring of potential contaminant sources such as landfill leachate and Disposal at Sea sites
• placing stronger controls on contaminants impacting whales, specifically enhancing regulatory control to further restrict five chemicals used as flame retardants and oil and water repellents, and prohibiting two new toxic flame retardants
• reducing contaminant releases via wastewater systems, as required under the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations
• strengthening capacity to better detect and target offenders with the highest noncompliance for contaminants of concern to endangered whales
• public outreach and education on personal actions individuals can take to reduce the impacts of contaminants on Southern Resident Killer Whales
• developing the Pollutants Affecting Whales and their Prey Inventory Tool (PAWPIT)

Pollutants Affecting Whales and their Prey Inventory Tool (PAWPIT)

As part of the Government’s effort to share information and data, the Pollutants Affecting Whales and their Prey Inventory Tool (PAWPIT), accessed using an interactive mapping tool, has been developed.

The inventory tool shows estimates of pollutant releases by all identified sources within the habitats of Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales and their primary prey, Chinook salmon. PAWPIT also displays estimated ambient contaminant loads in the Fraser River Basin, and indicates where environmental quality guidelines were exceeded.

More information