||| FROM AXIOS SEATTLE |||
A trial is underway to see if reducing the speed of large ships in Puget Sound can help protect the region’s endangered southern resident killer whales, also known as orcas.
Driving the news: The voluntary slow down, aimed at decreasing underwater noise, is the first of its kind, according to Quiet Sound, a collaboration among scientists, government agencies, the shipping industry, the U.S. military and tribal groups.
Why it matters: Only 73 southern resident killer whales remain — in three matriarchal social units, the J, K and L pods.
- The ability of the killer whales to navigate, communicate and hunt for salmon in Admiralty Inlet and north Puget Sound is threatened by underwater noise pollution caused by passing vessels, according to Quiet Sound.
Details: The noise-reducing effort, which began last week and will continue through Dec. 22, aims to create 20 nautical miles of quieter whale habitat by encouraging vessel operators to reduce speed in designated areas by 30-50% when feasible and safe.
- Quiet Sound is using underwater microphones to monitor noise levels during and after the slowdown to determine the trial’s effectiveness. Early data will be released Dec. 9.
Flashback: The plight of Puget Sound’s whales made news internationally in 2018 when grieving mother Tahlequah carried her dead baby calf on her head for 17 days over thousands of miles.
Thank-you, scientists, government agencies, the shipping industry, the U.S. military and tribal groups for coming together to help the endangered orca whales. I hope that this trial slow down will become permanent.