Scientists share concerns
about whales with Senator Cantwell
By Sharon Kivisto
posted 08/21/01
What is causing the decline in the resident orcas population? Toxins, boat noise and reduced salmon runs were some of the theories scientists mentioned during their August 15 meeting with U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell at the Friday Harbor UW Labs.
While there wasn't a consensus on the cause, the group of more than two dozen scientists and concerned citizens agreed on the need for more research. Dr. Rich Osborn of The Whale Museum said, "If every body of a dead orca was recovered and studied it would answer so many questions." He noted some bodies have no chance of being recovered, but if a stranding program was developed and funded the chances of recovering bodies would increase. If a whale's condition was deteriorating, scientists could follow it and recover the body.
Mark Anderson of the Orca Relief Citizens' Alliance believes the noise from whale watching boats is harming the whales. By studying the ears of dead orcas, scientists could determine if the boats were damaging the whales' ears.
Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research told Cantwell toxins and the diminished supply of prey for the orcas are the causes of the decline. He has been studying the whales since the 70s. He said results of the necropsy on J-18 revealed immune-deficiencies and reproductive incompetence, both results of PCB-toxicity. J-18 died a few years ago. Its ears were not examined for hearing damage.
Scientist David Bain noted L-pod had suffered the largest decline. Of the three resident pods, L-pod spends the least amount of time in the San Juans and therefore has less exposure to the whale watching boats than J and K pods. Development of a center for marine biology at the University of Washington would be helpful in finding the cause and a solution to the orcas' declining population he said.
National Marine Fisheries Service's lack of action to protect the whales was an issue with many of the assembled experts. Clearer guidelines and funds for NMFS to enforce them was a priority.
After her two hour science lesson on killer whales, Cantwell said, "Clearly Senator Murray and I need to discuss this." Monitoring of the NMFS' efforts, allocating resources and coordinating efforts need to be done she said.
"There is a great concern if the time estimates are wrong," she said. "Irregardless we need to take care of the eco-system."
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