Fisheries and Oceans Canada: A73 Whale to be Transported to Canadian Waters.

Business Editors

The Honourable Robert G. Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced authorization to transport a young killer whale from a temporary holding facility in the U.S. to Canadian waters. Following the whale's move to Johnstone Strait, the whale will be released to live in the wild.

"We are pleased to issue a permit to transport this juvenile killer whale," said Minister Thibault. "The goal of this project is to relocate this animal to the home range in hopes that it will reunite with its pod. To complete the transport, holding and release of the whale, DFO will monitor and provide advice to marine mammal experts from the Vancouver Aquarium."

The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre will lead in the care, handling and transport of the female whale, known as A73 or Springer, under the authority of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Over the past several months, the Department has been working with the Vancouver Aquarium, NMFS and others in efforts to monitor, rehabilitate and relocate the young whale.

"Our goal is to transport Springer to Johnstone Strait as expediently as possible," said Clint Wright, Vice President of Operations for the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre. "In general, this will be no different from transporting any of the other killer whales we have moved safely. Detailed plans and precautions have been made, leaving nothing to chance, ensuring the whale will arrive at the destination in a healthy and timely manner."

The Department's decision to issue a transport permit is based on advice from a Canadian medical assessment team comprised of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Vancouver Aquarium, and external veterinary, pathology and marine mammal biology experts. To assess the health of the killer whale this team reviewed the results of medical tests done while A73 has been at the U.S. holding facility in Manchester, Washington.

This thorough health and behavioural assessment of A73 has concluded that the overall health of the whale is good. The team also advised that the animal's health should not pose a risk to the northern resident whale population. Blood tests, skin biopsies, urinalysis, gas analysis and general health assessment tests were deemed acceptable. The whale is feeding well, active and showing no abnormal behaviours. She has been treated for parasites and her skin condition is resolving naturally.

The whale will be kept in a large ocean net enclosure with minimal human contact until an opportune moment to release it. DFO and Aquarium scientists will be monitoring the migration of the northern resident whales, and looking for A73's closest relatives for possible re-introduction. The whales are normally in the Johnstone Strait area from July until September. While it is hoped that she will reunite her with her family group, known as the A pod, scientists agree the likelihood of re-introduction is not assured, and the long-term survival of the animal cannot be determined.

While there is virtually no precedence of successful re-introduction of a whale back into its pod once it has been separated, the goal is

to minimize the risk posed to the whale without presenting a risk to her natal population. DFO is confident that progress can be made to re-introduce the whale and decisions will be made at each stage of the process based on the best course of action, taking into account the whale's health and well-being.

Scientific study of BC's killer whales is well advanced. This is due in part to the discovery by late DFO scientist Dr. Michael Bigg that individual whales can be identified using the natural markings (unique patterns of nicks and scars) on the dorsal fin and the gray "saddle" patch at the base of the fin. This set the stage for research during the last three decades by DFO and collaborators. This research base means scientists know who A73's pod and extended family members are, and have a tremendous knowledge about killer whale ecology on the Pacific Coast.

A73 will be equipped with a temporary radio tag to track its whereabouts after release for about one week, but further intervention is not expected. After the initial tracking period, the whale will be monitored through annual DFO surveys and with the assistance of volunteers.

Concerns about the whale surfaced earlier this year when she was observed alone in Washington's Puget Sound in an area of heavy boat traffic, including a ferry route. The occurrence of a solitary animal, particularly a juvenile, is unusual because resident killer whales normally travel in cohesive family groups. A team of experts felt the long-term prognosis for survival of this animal without intervention was extremely low. It was living in waters that were unsuitable and exposing itself to harmful human and boating activity. It was moved to a holding pen, fed remotely, and given minimal medical attention to improve its state of health in the hopes it could be relocated to its natural habitat.

Backgrounder

THE KILLER WHALE (ORCA)

The killer whale, or orca, is a marine mammal that is part of a group called cetaceans (pronounced 'set-AY-shans'). This group shares a number of characteristics and includes whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Killer whales are found in all the world's oceans, from polar to tropical seas. They seem to be most common in cold water regions, such as Iceland, Norway, Japan, Antarctica and the northeastern Pacific coast from Washington State to the Bering Sea.

There are two very different types, or races, of killer whale in B.C - resident and transient. They look very similar, but they act very differently,

Resident killer whales eat mainly fish. Their dorsal fins tend to be rounded at the top. They live in family groups of 5 to 50 whales, called pods. There are 19 pods of resident killer whales in B.C., adding up to about 275 animals. Resident killer whales are divided into separate northern and southern communities.

The northern community of resident killer whales lives off northern Vancouver Island and the mainland coast as far north as southeast Alaska. Northern residents often visit Johnstone Strait off northeastern Vancouver Island.

The southern community of residents is found off southern Vancouver Island. Haro Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca are good places to view them. Northern and southern residents are sometimes seen in winter, but vanish for months at a time.

Transient killer whales eat marine mammals, such as seals, sea lions and porpoises. Their dorsal fins are more pointed. They usually travel in small groups of two to four animals who may or may not be related to each other. At least 218 transient killer whales are known to roam the coastal waters of B.C. and southeast Alaska. Transient killer whales are not predictable; they can be seen anywhere, anytime. Transient and resident killer whales do not mix with each other.

What may be a third type of killer whale has been discovered in recent years. Researchers call them offshore killer whales, but since they have not been seen very often, very little is known about them.

In 1972, researchers began taking pictures of individual whales. From these photos, and by watching who travelled with whom, they learned that family life centres around females, and that a mother and her calves stay together for life.

Using all this information, researchers have put together family trees for all of B.C.'s resident killer whales. Family members within a pod are each identified by a letter and a number. They can often identify a family by identifying one whale in a group.

Sound is very important to killer whales. Each family group of whales has its own set of unique sounds or discrete calls, created using air trapped in their blowholes, which together form its dialect. Researchers believe that the more similar the dialects between two pods, the closer they are related.

In 2001, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) listed resident killer whales as endangered, and transient killer whales as threatened.

Continuing long-term study will lead to a better understanding of killer whales and their habitat needs.

Marine Mammal Viewing Guidelines

Closely interacting with wild marine mammals can affect their ability to cope and live in their natural environment.

In Canada, under the Fisheries Act, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, there are Marine Mammals Regulations that specifically prohibit disturbance of marine mammals.

The department has developed guidelines for marine mammals viewing in all areas along the coast of BC. It is strongly recommended that vessel operators follow these guidelines for all whale species.

The following is a summary of marine mammal viewing guidelines developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

-- 1. Be cautious when approaching areas where marine mammals are present.

-- 2. Reduce speed to less than 5 knots when within 500m of the nearest marine mammal.

-- 3. Avoid making any abrupt changes in speed or course.

-- 4. Stay at least 100 m away from the nearest animal.

-- 5. Always approach and depart animals from the side.

-- 6. Limit your time engaged in viewing to a maximum of 30 minutes.

-- 7. Do not position your vessel in the path of the animals.

-- 8. Back away at the first sign of disturbance or agitation.

-- 9. Be cautious and quiet.

-- 10. Do not feed marine mammals.

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Schedule for A73's transport to Johnstone Strait

Please be advised that this schedule is subject to change, and that times are approximate estimations. Media will be kept up to date on a daily basis, as timing changes are made. At this point the move is scheduled for Friday, July 12th, 2002. Again, this schedule is subject to change and can be affected by weather conditions, or if a change in the health of A73 is detected.

5:45am            Crane barge and Catalina Jet in position at Manchester
6:00am            Pen net shallowed
6:30am            Springer secured in transport cradle, then lifted to
                  transport unit, which will already be in position on
                  the Catalina Jet
7:00am            Final checks
7:15am            Catalina Jet departs Manchester
6:00pm (approx.)  Catalina Jet arrives at Hanson Island
6:15pm            Crane on barge lifts cradle into Springer's net pen

Media looking to interview the transport crew in Manchester will need to do so by 5:00am (exact time and arrangements to be confirmed). Staff will participate in media interviews in Telegraph Cove once Springer has had some time to adjust to her new surroundings.