Film about orphaned orca to be screened at Cannes

Vancouver Island's homegrown whale tale is headed to Cannes.

Saving Luna, the film about the life and death of the young killer whale who became separated from his pod and took up residence in Nootka Sound, is one of 10 feature films picked by Telefilm Canada for screening at the Cannes Marche de Film in the south of France later this month.

"We never expected, when we were in Gold River four years ago, that it would go this far," Chisholm said.

The film, which explores the complicated relationship between Luna, the people who tried to befriend him and organizations which tried to stop the interaction, has already won awards at film festivals from Bermuda to San Francisco.

Read more

Orca Lab : Good News!

Sorry this post is late, I was away...







(recapping the incident)


Robson Bight update:
Good news!


Hello everyone,


We have good news. Yesterday, British Columbia’s Environment Minister Barry Penner announced that Canada’s federal government will cooperate with the province in removing the diesel fuel tanker now lying underwater in the Ecological Reserve at Robson Bight. Though no definite timing was stated, subsequent comments by Minister Penner clearly indicated that officials are aware that the northern resident orcas are expected to return by early summer.


The decision represents real progress on an issue that should have impelled immediate action of the part of governments. The aftermath of the August 20th accident saw a smoke & mirrors dance (“no problem”) that delayed inspection of the wreckage, and then, once the dire situation had been dramatically revealed in underwater imagery, we were treated with stalling instead of planning. It took considerable effort from the public side to convince our governments to do an underwater inspection of the wreckage in the first instance, and then even more effort to convince them to do what was obvious from the outset. Now, finally, we have a decision, but is it in time?


We are left feeling very encouraged, but still worried. If the tanker with its toxic cargo can be removed before the orcas return, great, but if it cannot, we will find ourselves once again waiting. What happens now will depend on the ability of government officials to move swiftly through the process of awarding a contract and having the job done. If a call for bids happens this coming week, with a very short window for submissions, and very soon thereafter the contract is awarded, there is time, barely.


As we hold our collective breath, we want to acknowledge the participants in this drama who have brought us to this hopeful point. Living Oceans Society has been instrumental from the outset; BC’s Environment Minister Barry Penner has been a true listener and advocate; North Island MLA Claire Trevena has worked quietly behind the scenes in Victoria; North Island MP Catherine Bell has been vocal in Canada’s Parliament; and our local leaders: Namgis First Nation Chief Bill Cranmer, Alert Bay Mayor John Rowell, Port McNeill Mayor Gerry Furney, and the board of our Regional District have actively sought a decision. To all of them we are very grateful; and behind & in front of all of them stand all those who have pressed the issue, insisting that those who have the responsibility, act responsibly.


At this point, we have a simple and pleasant request for you to act on. Please write again to the Ministers involved, thanking them for their decision. At the same time, please request that they do what is needed before the orcas return, i.e. before mid June, 2008. Thank you.


Here is a link to yesterday’s announcement:


news releases 2005 2009


Here is a link to one of the stories that appeared after yesterday’s announcement:


victoria times colonist


And here are contact details for Ministers Penner and Hearn:


The Honourable Barry Penner
Minister of the Environment
P.O. Box 9047, Stn. Prov. Gov't.
Victoria, B.C.
V8W 9E2 Canada
phone: 1-250-387-1187
fax: 1-250-387-1356
Email: env.minister@gov.bc.ca

The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent St. Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0E6 Canada
phone: 1-613-992-3474
fax: 1-613- 995-7858
Email: Min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca


As ever, this comes with our best wishes to you all,


Paul & Helena

Governments Plan to Salvage Robson Bight Wreckage

This news just came in: (http://www.saverobsonbight.com)

VICTORIA, B.C. – The British Columbia government and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans will salvage critical pieces of wreckage from Robson Bight following the August 2007 barge incident, B.C. Environment Minister Barry Penner and Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Loyola Hearn announced today.

"Working in cooperation with the federal government, we have determined that this is the best way to proceed," said Penner. "As with any salvage operation, there will be risks involved but we want to retrieve the equipment as soon as possible while minimizing potential impacts to orcas and other wildlife.

Recent video footage of the sunken equipment in Robson Bight Ecological Reserve shows that the vehicles are mostly upright, relatively undamaged and do not appear to be leaking.

"Recognizing how ecologically sensitive Robson Bight is, it’s important for our two levels of government to work together, so we can remove the major risk of future pollution in Robson Bight from the barge incident," said Minister Hearn. "We will consult with experts to determine the best approach to minimize the potential risk of this salvage operation."

The B.C. Ministry of Environment contracted with technical experts to provide additional analysis of the equipment in Robson Bight. This helped the two levels of government assess the risks posed by the equipment and identify options for its mitigation.

Those analyses included a look by Environment Canada at the possible effects if any of the remaining petroleum products are released, and reviews by other experts to further assess the condition and stability of the tanker sitting on the seabed. The partners then reviewed the experts’ findings before determining next steps. Operational details of the salvage operation will be released shortly.

On Aug. 20, 2007 a barge carrying vehicles and forestry equipment foundered, dumping 11 pieces of equipment inside the boundary of the protected area.

Our orcas biggest enemy

Garbage Island a 12 part series

Is our planets biggest enemy; plastic.... Watch this incredible documentary about how the state of our planet is unfolding... A true tragedy.

Orca Video (In Spanish)

Flickr Videos!

book
Originally uploaded by orcagirl

Flickr now also involves video see this for example

Orca Lab : Robson Bight update

March 27, 2008

Robson Bight update
Waiting, waiting…

When a barge dangerously laden with logging equipment, including a tanker truck of diesel fuel, spilled its load in the heart of the world’s best known orca habitat – the Ecological Reserve at Robson Bight - last August 20th, whale lovers were outraged, environmentalists dismayed, the public alerted, and even the oil industry took note.

Canada’s initial response, via its Coastguard, was to discount the possibility of serious impacts by claiming all the oil and fuel had been released and dispersed. Eventually, after being pressured by NGOs who raised the funds needed to conduct an underwater investigation, the governments of British Columbia and Canada commissioned an underwater inspection of the spill site. This was completed in early December. Months later, despite video evidence (www.livingoceans.org) that the tanker truck is intact and probably still full of toxic diesel fuel we are still waiting for an announcement that the next obvious step – cleanup – will be undertaken before the orcas return in early summer. Organising and conducting the cleanup will take time, once the decision is made, and time is passing quickly. Meanwhile, a ticking toxic time bomb is lying on the ocean floor 350m below Robson Bight.

The absence of official reaction to the evidence from the underwater inspection is puzzling, and disturbing. The only thing that seems clear is that once again the governments are dragging their feet. Possibly they are hoping the problem will go away if they ignore it long enough. That simply isn’t good enough. The orcas will return soon, probably in June & no later than July. If the fuel tanker isn’t removed by the time the orcas arrive, it will be considered too risky to do the job until they leave again in the fall or early winter. This means the cleanup could be pushed back to next spring. Meanwhile, the diesel might remain inside the tanker, or it might not. If it is released when orcas are present, the result could be catastrophic. Leaving it lying at the bottom with orcas swimming above is foolhardy and negligent. For the orcas’ sake, and to ensure the ecological integrity of Robson Bight, the job must be done now. Waiting any longer is not an option.

As a matter of urgency, please insist that Canada and British Columbia act now. Thank you.

Here are the contact details:

The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent St. Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0E6 Canada
phone: 1-613-992-3474
fax: 1-613- 995-7858
Eamail: Min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca


The Honourable Barry Penner
Minister of the Environment
P.O. Box 9047, Stn. Prov. Gov't.
Victoria, B.C.
V8W 9E2 Canada
phone: 1-250-387-1187
fax: 1-250-387-1356
Email: env.minister@gov.bc.ca

Species at Risk

Recovery Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada (Final Version)

White Killer Whale

White Killer Whale spotted

NOAA SRKW Recovery Plan

ESA Recovery Plan for Southern Resident Killer Whales

The recovery program in the plan includes actions to address the following topics:

Prey Availability: Support salmon restoration efforts in the region including habitat,harvest and hatchery management considerations and continued use of existing authorities under the ESA and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to ensure an adequate prey base.

Pollution/Contamination: Clean up existing contaminated sites, minimize continuing inputs of contaminants harmful to killer whales, and monitor emerging contaminants.

Vessel Effects: Continue with evaluation and improvement of guidelines for vessel activity near Southern Resident killer whales and evaluate the need for regulations or protected areas.

Oil Spills: Prevent oil spills and improve response preparation to minimize effects on Southern Residents and their habitat in the event of a spill.

Acoustic Effects: Continue agency coordination and use of existing ESA and MMPA mechanisms to minimize potential impacts from anthropogenic sound.

Education and Outreach: Enhance public awareness, educate the public on actions they can participate in to conserve killer whales and improve reporting of Southern Resident killer whale sightings and strandings.

Response to Sick, Stranded, Injured Killer Whales: Improve responses to live and dead killer whales to implement rescues, conduct health assessments, and determine causes of death to learn more about threats and guide overall conservation efforts.

Transboundary and Interagency Coordination: Coordinate monitoring, research, enforcement, and complementary recovery planning with Canadian agencies, and Federal and State partners.

Research and Monitoring: Conduct research to facilitate and enhance conservation efforts. Continue the annual census to monitor trends in the population, identify individual animals, and track demographic parameters.

Click here for more information.

Orcas attack Minke Whale

part 1


part 2


part 3


part 4

Incredible 4 part series documented by videographer Doug aka "OlEagleEye"

In Ganges Harbour on Saltspring Island, British. Columbia, on 15 October 2002, Transient orcas kill minke whale.

Author Erich Hoyt's First Killer Whale Expedition

Anna the Orca

She is from Norway

Goodbye Luna

Goodbye Luna
Originally uploaded by Kasatka

A wonderful drawing of our good friend luna. Thank you kasatkaorca

Orca Lab: Spill update

Robson Bight Oil Spill Investigation Update

Unusually benign winter weather conditions during the past 3 weeks have assisted the underwater investigation of the aftermath of the tragic August 20th oil spill in Robson Bight. A mini sub operated by Nuytco Research (http://www.nuytco.com) under government contract has located and documented (in high resolution video) all the equipment that fell 350m to the ocean floor when a barge dumped its load into the orcas’ Ecological Reserve. The full list of equipment can be seen on the Living Oceans Society web site (Clippings which also details the course of the investigation.

Crucial among the items discovered was a tanker truck laden with 10,000 litres of diesel fuel when it sank. The tanker landed upright and is sitting in sediment up to its axles. Both ends of the fuel tank buckled in under pressure and have a concave appearance. It will take careful examination of the video record to determine whether the tank still contains diesel fuel. We are unlikely to hear the results of this assessment until the New Year. A copy of the video has been promised to Living Oceans, so NGOs will have an opportunity to conduct independent reviews of the evidence.

Because all the equipment has been located, cleaning up the mess at the bottom of Robson Bight, by removing the equipment and assorted debris, has become a practical matter. There is no reason why the current investigation phase cannot be followed quickly by a cleanup phase, so that when the orcas return to their “core habitat” next summer, they will find the waters of Robson Bight as welcoming as they were before the spill.

December 21, 2007

Saving Luna Trailer

snorkeling con le orche

snorkeling con le orche
Originally uploaded by arcticroute.com

Living Oceans : Spill Investigation update

Today has more updates and visual records of the on going investigation of the diesel spill in Johnstone Strait this past August which occurred in an orca hotspot

Of Flotilla Orca's and flying Koi

A dvd menu by Pat Wong

Orca Pair

Orca Pair
Originally uploaded by Jeff Lorton

By Jeff Lorton