Orcas, or killer whales, are among Puget Sound’s most distinctive and charismatic creatures. They are icons in Pacific Northwest culture and top predators of the marine ecosystem. The Orcas Vital Sign tells us about the population status of the endangered Southern Resident killer whales and the occurrence of all orcas in Puget Sound. The combination of a precarious food supply and threats from pollution, vessel traffic, and noise continues to jeopardize the survival of Southern Resident killer whales.
VITAL SIGN INDICATOR | INDICATOR PROGRESS | TARGET STATUS |
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VITAL SIGN INDICATOR | INDICATOR PROGRESS | TARGET STATUS |
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Southern Resident killer whales spend a considerable portion of the year outside the Salish Sea, where they eat Chinook salmon from Puget Sound and other regions of Washington and Oregon — including the Columbia Basin — as well other areas, like the Fraser River in British Columbia and the Klamath River in California. Therefore, improving prey availability outside Puget Sound is also fundamental to resident orca recovery.
Southern Resident killer whale's use of the Salish Sea, particularly in summer, has steadily declined over the past several years. Conversely, Bigg’s killer whale’s use of the Salish Sea has dramatically increased.
When Southern Resident killer whales can’t find enough to eat, they must burn their own fat, thereby increasing circulation of harmful pollutants picked up from the Salish Sea and elsewhere. Science suggests that poorer body condition increases the orcas’ vulnerability to disease and hinders reproduction. The Toxics in Fish Vital Sign raises concern over the presence of human-made contaminants throughout the food web.
In the Salish Sea, underwater noise and disturbance from commercial and recreational vessels cause Southern Resident killer whales to forage less efficiently for salmon that are now more scarce and smaller than in decades past. Boats at ranges less than 400 yards are associated with fewer and shorter foraging dives and more shifts by females to non-foraging behavior. Reducing vessel noise that masks echolocation and communication to improve access to prey and increasing salmon supply are both crucial for orca recovery.
Because disease can cause increased morbidity and mortality in orcas, reducing pathogens in their environment through improved marine water quality should complement reduction of the key threats to Southern Resident recovery: contaminants, decreased prey, and vessel disturbance.
Indicator Targets
The following organizations monitor killer whales in Puget Sound: