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.
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.
Learn more about L41’s broad genetic influence on the population
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.”
Learn more about how microplastics end up in killer whales
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.
Learn more about microplastics in whale feces
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.
Learn how you can help improve salmon 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.
Learn how you can take part in the public process of setting salmon seasons
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.
Learn more about the impact of salmon fishing on Southern Residents
