Document Type

Report

Publication Date

7-2025

Keywords

Salish Sea, Emerging issues, Environmental Policies, Whale Conservation

Abstract

The Salish Sea is a biologically diverse ecosystem which is home to at least six species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises). This inland sea supports seasonal booms of numerous cetacean prey species, including Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii), and ghost shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosus), making the Salish Sea an important foraging ground for cetaceans (Gaydos & Pearson, 2011; Pietsch & Orr, 2015; Quinn & Losee, 2022). Subsequently, there is designated critical habitat for two at-risk cetaceans – Southern Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) within the Salish Sea (Figure 1).

Southern Resident killer whales are listed as ‘endangered’ under both Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA) and the United States (U.S.) Endangered Species Act (ESA; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1973; Government of Canada, 2002). This population of killer whale has suffered historic declines starting in the 1960s, with currently 74 individuals remaining in the population as of April 2025. Conversely, over 1,200 individual humpback whales have been observed in the Salish Sea, consisting of whales from three distinct population segments (DPS) – Central America, Mexico, and Hawaii DPS (Martien et al., 2021; Taylor et al., 2021; Malleson & Shaw, 2024).

Humpback whales have been steadily increasing in numbers over the last two decades following the end of commercial whaling, however, both Southern Residents and humpback whales are facing increasing pressure from anthropogenic effects, including acoustic and physical disturbance from vessels, reduced prey availability, and persistent environmental contaminants (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2018; Sato & Wiles, 2021). Despite a total of 16 laws, seven regulations, and one treaty enacted across Canada and the U.S. to reduce these threats, the transboundary nature of the Salish Sea is challenging for ensuring sufficient overlap of protections between state, provincial, and federal measures.

Sponsorship/Conference/Institution

Salish Sea Institute

Type

Text

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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