Killer whale protection Order issued after lawsuit filed
Canada’s beloved resident orca populations, complete with two newborn calves, have finally been given a safer home.
Canada’s beloved resident orca populations, complete with two newborn calves, have finally been given a safer home. In response to an Ecojustice lawsuit, the federal government has declared that is now illegal to destroy the critical habitat of the northern and southern resident killer whale. The Order – the first of its kind – affects an enormous stretch of ocean along the north and south ends of Vancouver Island, including the Gulf Islands.
The tides began to turn for the orcas when staff lawyers Lara Tessaro and Margot Venton filed a lawsuit
on behalf of nine environmental groups. The lawsuit came after the
federal government concluded a lengthy recovery strategy process by
announcing it would take no new action to protect the orca’s critical
habitat. But the government did a complete turnaround this February, issuing a protection Order as the environmental groups demanded.
While
the Order is an exciting sign that all is not lost for these majestic
creatures, it is not yet clear how it will be used to ensure their
protection. To be effective the Order must be used to tackle the key threats to killer whale survival: increased disturbance, not enough salmon and too much pollution.
“This
is not the end of our battle for the orcas, but it is a great step
forward,” said Tessaro. This Order may signal a shift in government
thinking towards taking SARA seriously and getting down to the business
of protecting habitat and animals that depend on it.
“If we can
do this for the orcas, an animal with such a vast habitat, then we can
do it for so many other species from the Banff Springs Snail to the
Humpback Whale,” said Venton.
What are your thoughts on this DFO Order?
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