Dept of Fish And Wildlife Increases Recommended Distance From Endangered Orcas

SEATTLE, Wash.- The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is now recommending that boaters stay 10 football fields away from endangered orcas.

The current buffer is 300 yards from Southern Resident killer whales, or 400 yards from the path in front of or behind them.

The department says increasing that to 1000 yards will enhance the whales’ recovery.

The Southern Residents are listed as an endangered species and just 73 remain.

Their primary threats are lack of food, pollution, and marine noise that interferes with their ability to hunt and navigate.

Buffers around more robust transient killer whales or other whale species would not change.

This is a recommendation from DFW and lawmakers would have to take action to increase the buffer to 1000 yards.