For ferry-goers gliding through the calm and sometimes narrow channels of British Columbia’s Gulf Islands, the views can be idyllic: craggy coastlines and placid inlets set against lush forested mountains.
For ferry-goers gliding through the calm and sometimes narrow channels of British Columbia’s Gulf Islands, the views can be idyllic: craggy coastlines and placid inlets set against lush forested mountains. But for endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs), of which fewer than 80 remain, the area has become increasingly dangerous.
Whales there face a range of threats, including potential contamination from oil spills from commercial ship accidents, and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) which infiltrate ocean sediments and accumulate in Chinook and Chum salmon—important food sources for resident killer whales.
Noise pollution is another problem for these mammals. According to a report published by the Canadian government, noise from ships drowns out whale communications, which in turn affects their ability to find mates and also reduces the distance over which they can detect food using echolocation clicks. In fact, these killer whales may lose up several hours of foraging time per day from noise-related disturbances.
Read more at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Photo by Dan Zitterbart, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
