CONSERVATION ISSUES

NORTHERN & SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
RECOVERY STRATEGY (CANADA)

Resident killer whale populations in British Columbia are presently considered to be at risk because of their small population size, low reproductive rate, and the existence of a variety of anthropogenic threats that have the potential to prevent recovery or to cause further declines.

In 2001, the Committee of the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) designated southern resident killer whales as ‘endangered’, and northern resident killer whales as ‘threatened’.

For information on the government of Canada's recovery strategy please visit the Species at Risk Public Registry website.

NEW DRAFTS FOR SPECIES AT RISK
MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR FOUR MARINE MAMMALS

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has posted four draft Species at Risk Act management plans for marine mammals. Management plans are now available on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pacific Region website for the;

• Steller sea lion

• Harbour porpoise

• Grey whale

• Offshore killer whale

Comments on the management plans are welcome before May 12th, 2008, and can be submitted online via the comment form.

GOVERNMENTS PLAN TO SALVAGE ROBSON BIGHT WRECKAGE

April 18, 2008

On Aug. 20, 2007 a barge carrying vehicles and forestry equipment foundered, dumping 11 pieces of equipment inside the protected area boundary of the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.

The British Columbia government and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans will salvage critical pieces of wreckage from Robson Bight following the August 2007 barge incident, Environment Minister Barry Penner and federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Loyola Hearn announced today.

Recent video footage of the sunken equipment in Robson Bight Ecological Reserve shows that the vehicles are mostly upright and relatively undamaged, and do not appear to be leaking.

Operational details of the salvage operation will be released shortly.