SEATTLE, Wash. — The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its partners have announced new conservation grants to stabilize and recover the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population.
The Killer Whale Research and Conservation Program — a joint project of various agencies and corporations – will receive more than $1.2-million in grants.
Six projects are planned to address three threat categories prioritized by the Governor’s Orca Task Force including prey availability, vessel impacts, and pollutants.
Southern Resident orcas were listed as endangered in 2005, and were highlighted by NOAA Fisheries as one of eight national species at greatest risk of extinction.