5-Year Review for Southern Resident Killer Whales

NOAA Fisheries is announcing completion of the ESA 5-year review on the Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) DPS, which summarizes and evaluates the best available scientific information regarding SRKW biology, status, and threats that has become available since the last 5-year review was completed in 2016.

NOAA Fisheries concludes that SRKW continue to face a high risk of extinction and should remain listed as endangered. The DPS is currently experiencing a downward trend and has not met many of the recovery criteria outlined in the Final Recovery Plan