Salmon and whales

The killer-whale population has become a compelling example of the impact of the West Coast salmon industry. Nine killer whales recently disappeared from their pods off the south end of Vancouver Island, having probably died of starvation. Steps should be taken to make sure that fisheries allocations take into account the needs of species that cannot survive without Pacific salmon.

All along the West Coast, Pacific salmon - from pinks to Chinook - are under severe pressure.

The diet of resident killer whales consists mainly of salmon, especially Chinook salmon. Earlier this year, some of the 83 killer whales off the north coast of Washington and southern British Columbia, known as the "southern residents," showed signs of weight loss. Marine biologists believe the missing adult whales (including two reproductive females) starved to death. Meanwhile, the "northern residents," a comparatively stable group of about 200 killer whales that range around the northern end of Vancouver Island were hard to spot this summer in the Broughton Archipelago - an area where they used to hold large social gatherings.

There has been a massive drop in the pink salmon population in the Broughton Archipelago. This decline is widely believed to have been caused by sea-lice infestations in the numerous Atlantic salmon fish farms in the area though the research has been deemed inconclusive. Whatever the cause, pink salmon play an important role providing nutrients to the entire ecosystem and when the pink salmon suffer, other species, like the Chinook, can be expected to follow suit. The drop in pink salmon has definitely harmed the grizzly bears in the area that rely on the spawning adults to bulk up for hibernation. There have been reports of large males killing cubs for food.

The department of Fisheries and Oceans salmon-allocation policy should be influenced by the danger that one of the great sea mammals could face extinction, rather than aggravating the risk. Some biologists have suggested that the DFO allocate salmon to killer whales and grizzly bears, as well as to the First Nations, commercial and recreational fishery interests. This suggestion deserves further study.

The DFO's Wild Salmon Policy already recognizes the importance of maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem. The department should move now to achieve it.