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Southern Resident Connections
Southern Resident killer whales are icons of a vibrant but struggling marine ecosystem. Join us in exploring the ecological connections that tie this system together, and the ways we are protecting and working to recover the whales we care so much about.
Southern Resident Connections is an ongoing series where we will share the latest perspectives on endangered Southern Resident killer whales. We'll cover recovery efforts, science, and our vision for protecting and restoring the ecosystem on which the whales and so many others depend.
This series highlights the threads connecting Southern Residents' health, well-being, and chances for successful recovery. Southern Residents are connected to other species in the ecosystem, such as salmon; components of the ecosystem, including terrestrial and aquatic habitats; and all of us—our everyday choices for recreation, yard care, transportation, and many other actions have profound impacts on the species and the ecosystems.
You'll hear from scientists, recovery managers, fish biologists, and others who are working to understand and address the risks to the whales. Some of the efforts they will highlight will be familiar, and others are emerging. We will explain both the challenges we face and the progress we are making.
Coordinated Response Protected Southern Residents From Sunken Ship Leaking Oil
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U.S. Coast Guard overflight on August 14, 2022 to document the oil from the Aleutian Isle spill off of Sunset Point, San Juan Island. Credit: U.S. Coast Guard
What do you do when endangered Southern Resident killer whales are headed toward an oil spill?
That was the question NOAA Fisheries, along with federal, state, and local partners, wrestled with this summer. Endangered killer whales were spotted in the Strait of Juan de Fuca headed toward the San Juan Islands, where a fishing vessel had gone down and was leaking fuel. After determining that the crew was safe, the oil spill response team focused on protecting the environment, the iconic Southern Resident killer whales, and other precious resources.
Intern Spotlight: Students Analyze Connection Between Skagit River Dams, Chinook Salmon, and Southern Resident Orcas
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Alexa Haucke and Jenna Callan interned with the Protected Resources Division of NOAA Fisheries’ West Coast Region under the Hollings Preparation Program.
Springer (A73) is Back! Now a Mother of Two Calves
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On the eve of the 20th anniversary of Springer’s successful rescue, the Northern Resident killer whale was spotted in British Columbia waters with her two calves.
Status Review Finds Endangered Killer Whales Still Face High Risk of Extinction
NOAA Fisheries recently completed a 5-year review of the Southern Resident killer whale distinct population segment and concluded that the whales continue to face a high risk of extinction and should remain listed as endangered.
Amended Plan Leaves More Salmon for Endangered Killer Whales in Low Return Years
NOAA Fisheries is approving an amendment to the fishery management plan for Chinook salmon off the West Coast to make more fish available for endangered Southern Resident killer whales in years when salmon returns are low.
Higher Vessel Speeds Offset Salmon Abundance for Endangered Orcas, Reducing Chance of Catching Prey
Increased abundance of salmon in the inland waters of the Salish Sea increased the odds of endangered Southern Resident killer whales capturing salmon as prey, but increased speeds of nearby boats did just the opposite, according to new research findings.
Expanded Critical Habitat Signals Much of West Coast Contributes to Recovery of Endangered Killer Whales
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Designated critical habitat for endangered Southern Resident killer whales will now include most coastal waters from Washington to Monterey Bay in California—formerly they encompassed only most of the inland waters of Washington.
NOAA Fisheries Joins Orca Action Month with Events Throughout June
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NOAA Fisheries is helping orca fans everywhere learn about and help protect endangered Southern Resident killer whales and other killer whales in the Northwest.
Diversity of Fish Species Support Killer Whale Diet Throughout the Year
Endangered Southern Resident killer whales prey on a diversity of Chinook and other salmon. The stocks come from an enormous geographic range as far north as Alaska and as far south as California’s Central Valley, a new analysis shows.
The Mystery of the Missing DTAG: Biologists Narrow Search for Tag as Time Runs Short
The missing tag eluded scientists like a diving killer whale. Research scientist Sheila Thornton of Fisheries and Oceans Canada learned that she must have been within a stone’s throw of the tag.
The Mystery of the Missing DTAG: Biologists Search for Lost Tag with Vital Killer Whale Data
Biologists used to studying endangered Southern Resident killer whales spent almost a week in September on a whole different kind of effort. They were searching for a sophisticated tag with a rare overnight record of a whale’s behavior and acoustic world.
No-Impact Whale Watching: The Whale Trail Builds Knowledge of Whales and Support for Recovery
For years Donna Sandstrom watched Southern Resident killer whales and other whales from shore near her home in West Seattle. It’s perhaps the best urban area in the nation to view these and other cetaceans.
Fishery Council Seeks Input on Protecting Prey for Endangered Killer Whales
A workgroup has outlined options for providing for prey needs of endangered Southern Resident killer whales in the course of designing West Coast salmon fishing seasons.
What is Nearshore Habitat and Why Does it Matter to Orcas?
There is an especially valuable environment in Puget Sound made up of the beaches, bluffs, inlets, and river deltas: the nearshore. Nearshore habitat matters to Southern Resident killer whales because their primary prey, Chinook salmon, need them to grow and find safety when they are young.
Sound Strategy: Hunting with the Southern Residents, Part 2
Southern Resident killer whales can tell a lot about salmon using only sound. This is especially interesting to Marla Holt, who studies how integral sound is to the lives of Southern Resident killer whales.
Sound Strategy: Hunting with the Southern Residents, Part 1
This is the time of year when boats multiply on the inland waters of Washington as more people get outdoors for the summer. It is also the time when many long for a precious chance to see the endangered Southern Resident killer whales.
L41 is Missing. What Does This Mean for the Southern Residents?
The Center for Whale Research reported in January 2020 that L41, also known as “Mega”, is missing from L-pod. That’s one of three family groups of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. With population numbers for the Southern Residents so low, the loss of any individual from the population is troubling.
Researchers Probe Orca Poop for Microplastics: Part 2
“There are two ways that the whales could ingest microplastics,” says Kim Parsons, Research Geneticist with NOAA Fisheries’ Northwest Fisheries Science Center. “They could incidentally swallow particles in sea water while eating fish, or they could ingest salmon that are themselves contaminated with microplastic particles.”
Researchers Probe Orca Poop for Microplastics: Part 1
You might worry about your toddler chewing on a plastic toy with toxic chemicals. Some orca researchers are beginning to worry about whales ingesting a gut full of microplastics, and what that might mean for their health.
Killer Whale Recovery Begins With Salmon Habitat, and That Begins With You
Consider this Northwest twist on a familiar saying: “Give a killer whale a salmon, and it will eat for a day. Restore the habitat the salmon and whales depend on, and they will live for generations to come.” At NOAA Fisheries we are determined to get more Chinook salmon to the endangered Southern Resident killer whales, and that begins with more and better habitat.
West Coast Salmon Fishing and Southern Residents: Part 2
NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region works with the Pacific Fishery Management Council to set salmon fishing seasons. We also set harvest levels at sustainable levels consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Annual catch limits are set to achieve science-based conservation objectives and support recovery of the runs protected by the Endangered Species Act.
West Coast Salmon Fishing and Southern Residents: Part 1
Southern Resident killer whales feed on Chinook salmon from coastal Pacific waters. Chinook salmon fishing is also a mainstay of the West Coast economy, generating nearly $72 million in income last year. We are working with states, tribes, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council to examine how West Coast fisheries affect prey for the Southern Residents.
Southern Resident killer whales encountered during NOAA's PODs (Pacific Orcinus Distribution Survey) in October 2021 near the west end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
The Fivemile-Bell habitat restoration project in the Siuslaw watershed in Oregon. Credit: Siuslaw Watershed Council.
Southern Resident killer whales encountered during NOAA's PODs (Pacific Orcinus Distribution Survey) in October 2021 near the west end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Tidal wetlands in the Nisqually River Basin, where restored habitat fosters growth of juvenile salmon and steelhead on their way to the ocean.
