A coalition of environmental groups wants the federal government to take emergency action to protect endangered southern resident killer whales.
Represented by Ecojustice, the six groups are asking the federal Fisheries and Oceans and Environment ministers to declare an emergency under the Species at Risk Act. They are asking for the minimum distance vessels can be from whales to be increased to 1,000 metres, similar to limits recently in Washington State.
They are also asking for an underwater noise management plan, especially for ships associated with the Trans Mountain Pipeline.
The coalition also recommends changes and more restrictions to fisheries that will preserve larger Chinook salmon in the ocean for the whales to eat.
