What's new // Southern Resident killer whales

Southern Resident killer whales

If Southern Resident killer whales are to persist in the Salish Sea decisive steps producing substantive reductions in threats must be taken. Southern Resident killer whales are critically endangered. Their salmon food supply is in decline and their waters are noisy and polluted. This declining population of 73 animals (July 2022) has very low birth rates and premature deaths of adult whales. The birth of recent calves offers hope, but threats that impede their successful feeding and access to Chinook must be addressed for calves to survive and population recovery to occur. Learn more.

Notes from the field
Raincoast Radio
Conservation updates
Raincoast updates
Press releases

Science literature
Reports and books
Investigate and inform
Backgrounders
Map science

Backgrounders

Conservation groups urge the NEB to reject Kinder Morgan pipeline
2016 January 252024 July 8

“The quantity of Kinder Morgan’s evidence does not make it quality evidence,” said Karen Campbell, Ecojustice lawyer for Raincoast and Living Oceans.

Read More Conservation groups urge the NEB to reject Kinder Morgan pipeline
In the media

New report adds billions to cost of oil spill off BC’s south coast
2016 January 212024 July 8

Environmental and risk assessments for projects that would increase tanker traffic in southwestern BC fail to consider billions of dollars in potential impacts, according to a new report by Raincoast.

Read More New report adds billions to cost of oil spill off BC’s south coast
Backgrounders

Value of the Salish Sea revealed in new report
2016 January 202024 July 8

Raincoast’s new report encourages decision makers and residents to fully consider what is at stake from a host of proposed coastal energy and shipping projects.

Read More Value of the Salish Sea revealed in new report
Raincoast updates

Raincoast files its final arguments to the NEB
2016 January 122024 July 8

Raincoast has filed our final arguments in the National Energy Board’s review of Kinder Morgan’s proposed Trans Mountain expansion.

Read More Raincoast files its final arguments to the NEB
In the media | Investigate and inform

Opinion: Saving more than memories
2015 July 182024 July 8

Misty MacDuffee and Chris Genovali, Special to Vancouver Sun
Raincoast discusses the future of Canada’s endangered southern resident killer whales in the Salish Sea…

Read More Opinion: Saving more than memories
Investigate and inform

Potential acoustic impacts of increased vessel traffic on Southern Resident Killer Whales
2015 June 202024 July 8

Dr. Chris Clark, acoustic expert from Cornell University, describes how noise and disturbance from vessels in the Salish Sea are likely impacting killer whales…

Read More Potential acoustic impacts of increased vessel traffic on Southern Resident Killer Whales
Investigate and inform

Population Viability Analysis of Southern Resident killer whales
2015 June 202024 July 8

Expert report on the viability of the southern resident killer whale population in the face of existing and future threats within their critical habitat of the Salish Sea…

Read More Population Viability Analysis of Southern Resident killer whales
Raincoast updates

Raincoast files NEB evidence on wildlife impacts from proposed Trans Mountain project
2015 May 302024 July 8

On May 27 Raincoast filed four submissions to the NEB on our concerns regarding Kinder Morgan’s proposed Trans Mountain Expansion…

Read More Raincoast files NEB evidence on wildlife impacts from proposed Trans Mountain project
In the media

Plumbing the depths of the Salish Sea
2015 April 242024 July 8

Angela Cowan / Peninsula News Review
The Raincoast Conservation Foundation is hosting an entertainment-laced evening of Salish Sea inspired scientific talks…

Read More Plumbing the depths of the Salish Sea
In the media

Tired of waiting for feds, advocates take own path to protect orcas
2015 April 52024 July 8

Amy Smart / Times Colonist
A group of orca advocates is making its own plans to protect endangered killer whales, saying a federal action plan is overdue…

Read More Tired of waiting for feds, advocates take own path to protect orcas
In the media

Your voices against the wolf cull
2015 January 242025 December 15

Read some of the letters written to Minister Steve Thomson, Premier Christy Clark and BC MLAs, in opposition to the government’s wolf cull. Send us yours…

Read More Your voices against the wolf cull
Tracking Raincoast

Tracking Raincoast into 2015
2014 December 302024 July 8

Our annual report, Tracking Raincoast into 2015, celebrates our achievements over the last 12 months…

Read More Tracking Raincoast into 2015