Killer Whales and Oil Spill Response.

1. Killer Whales and Oil Spill Response. Good day I am Don Noviello with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and I am here to give you a brief update on the new plan for the protection of Killer Whales during oil spills.Good day I am Don Noviello with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and I am here to give you a brief update on the new plan for the protection of Killer Whales during oil spills.

2. Oils spills are bad for Killer Whales. Follow up investigation on killer whale pods observed near the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 have shown these groups have suffered very significant long term impacts. The exact mode of injury is not well known, but it is strongly suspected that inhalation of toxic vapors when the whales surface in or near a spill and possibly the ingestion of oil on contaminated prey are the source of injury. As this photo illustrates there is no evidence that killer whales actively avoid oil spills, thus planning efforts have focused on efforts to haze the whales away. This is our best and likely only course of action as no one thinks that whales can be successfully captured and rehabilitated once they have been injured by oil. Our Southern Resident Killer Whale population particularly at risk due to the small and unstable population size which has resulted in them being listed as endangered under the ESA. Additionally their tendency to concentrate in areas near shipping such as Haro Strait mean a single moderate size spill could impact a large percentage of our population. (Background information not to be read unless questions come up) Specifically the resident fish eating Pod designated AB lost up to 13 of is 35 members in the two years following the EVOS but is slowly recovering now. Another unique marine mammal eating pod designated AT1 lost 9 of its 22 members shortly after EVOS and has continued to decline to the point only 7 members survive and extinction for the group is virtually certain.  Oils spills are bad for Killer Whales. Follow up investigation on killer whale pods observed near the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 have shown these groups have suffered very significant long term impacts. The exact mode of injury is not well known, but it is strongly suspected that inhalation of toxic vapors when the whales surface in or near a spill and possibly the ingestion of oil on contaminated prey are the source of injury. As this photo illustrates there is no evidence that killer whales actively avoid oil spills, thus planning efforts have focused on efforts to haze the whales away. This is our best and likely only course of action as no one thinks that whales can be successfully captured and rehabilitated once they have been injured by oil. Our Southern Resident Killer Whale population particularly at risk due to the small and unstable population size which has resulted in them being listed as endangered under the ESA. Additionally their tendency to concentrate in areas near shipping such as Haro Strait mean a single moderate size spill could impact a large percentage of our population. (Background information not to be read unless questions come up) Specifically the resident fish eating Pod designated AB lost up to 13 of is 35 members in the two years following the EVOS but is slowly recovering now. Another unique marine mammal eating pod designated AT1 lost 9 of its 22 members shortly after EVOS and has continued to decline to the point only 7 members survive and extinction for the group is virtually certain.

3. How do we deal with killer whales during an oil spill response? The 2009 NWACP and Oiled Wildlife Response Plan has been amended to address killer whale response hazing and monitoring during an oil spill. Additionally, a NOAA web page for Killer Whale hazing information has been produced. Two years of work by the NOAA National Marine Fisheries, WDFW Oil Spill Team and the SeaDoc Society have resulted in significant revisions to the NWACP and the Oiled wildlife Response Plan that address actions to be taken to protect killer whales during an oil spill . Changes have been made to section 3000 of the Northwest Area contingency plan and the component Northwest Wild life Response Plan (Section (9970). These changes are supported by the production of the Killer Whale Monitoring and Hazing information document available on the NOAA web site. Two years of work by the NOAA National Marine Fisheries, WDFW Oil Spill Team and the SeaDoc Society have resulted in significant revisions to the NWACP and the Oiled wildlife Response Plan that address actions to be taken to protect killer whales during an oil spill . Changes have been made to section 3000 of the Northwest Area contingency plan and the component Northwest Wild life Response Plan (Section (9970). These changes are supported by the production of the Killer Whale Monitoring and Hazing information document available on the NOAA web site.

4. What is in the plan? So what is in the plan? Specifically, the plan now identifies times and places where SRKW are known to occur frequently such that a significant portion of the population could be impacted by an oil spill even of moderate magnitude. NOAA has (or is working to) pre-authorize the FOSC to implement three specific hazing methods via the Wildlife Branch to attempt to keep Killer Whales away from oiled areas or encourage them to leave such areas. The plan now identifies the procedure for considering a wide variety of relatively untested but potentially useful other hazing methods. Finally. it provides some minimum requirements for monitoring hazing operations and oil impact on killer whales.So what is in the plan? Specifically, the plan now identifies times and places where SRKW are known to occur frequently such that a significant portion of the population could be impacted by an oil spill even of moderate magnitude. NOAA has (or is working to) pre-authorize the FOSC to implement three specific hazing methods via the Wildlife Branch to attempt to keep Killer Whales away from oiled areas or encourage them to leave such areas. The plan now identifies the procedure for considering a wide variety of relatively untested but potentially useful other hazing methods. Finally. it provides some minimum requirements for monitoring hazing operations and oil impact on killer whales.

5. High Risk Areas May through September - Haro Strait and Strait of Georgia up to Canadian Border off Point Roberts (Light Pink). October through January - Admiralty Inlet and central Puget Sound (Dark Pink). The high risk areas are a shown here. From May through September the west side of the San Juan Islands up to the Point Roberts has Killer wales somewhere in the are almost daily. During the fall and winter killer whales frequent Admiralty inlet and central Puget Sound. Whenever an oil spill occurs in these areas and time periods efforts to evaluate the risk to Killer whales and plans to haze them away from danger are to be considered.The high risk areas are a shown here. From May through September the west side of the San Juan Islands up to the Point Roberts has Killer wales somewhere in the are almost daily. During the fall and winter killer whales frequent Admiralty inlet and central Puget Sound. Whenever an oil spill occurs in these areas and time periods efforts to evaluate the risk to Killer whales and plans to haze them away from danger are to be considered.

6. Hovering Helicopters Killer whales have been observed to change directions when confronted with a low flying helicopter in their path. Presumably due to the induced subsurface acoustic signal. As previously mentioned three methods for hazing have been pre-approved, The first of these is the use of low flying helicopters. Killer whales have been observed to change directions when confronted with the noise produces by these low flying aircraft. Advantage speed of deployment Disadvantage cost and limited field experince.As previously mentioned three methods for hazing have been pre-approved, The first of these is the use of low flying helicopters. Killer whales have been observed to change directions when confronted with the noise produces by these low flying aircraft. Advantage speed of deployment Disadvantage cost and limited field experince.

7. Oikomi Pipes Reverberant metal pipes deployed from small boats that when struck create a sonic signal that has successfully been used to herd killer whales in a particular direction. Another pre-approved method is the use of Oikomi Pipes. These are reverberant metal pipes that can be suspended from the side of small boats and struck to produce a sound that killer whales find objectionable and has been successfully used to herd killer whales out of a bay in Alaska. Advantage: most scientific evidence they work Disadvantage: requires more people, boats and time to deploy.Another pre-approved method is the use of Oikomi Pipes. These are reverberant metal pipes that can be suspended from the side of small boats and struck to produce a sound that killer whales find objectionable and has been successfully used to herd killer whales out of a bay in Alaska. Advantage: most scientific evidence they work Disadvantage: requires more people, boats and time to deploy.

8. Seal Bombs Small hand deployed submersible explosives that create a small detonation that has been used in hazing various types of wildlife. The third pre-approved method is the deployment of seal bombs, these are small hand deployed submersible explosives that create a small detonation producing a sound that has been used in hazing various types of wildlife. Advantage: Reasonable evidence it works and relative ease of deploying equipment. Disadvantage: requires more people, boats and time to deploy. The third pre-approved method is the deployment of seal bombs, these are small hand deployed submersible explosives that create a small detonation producing a sound that has been used in hazing various types of wildlife. Advantage: Reasonable evidence it works and relative ease of deploying equipment. Disadvantage: requires more people, boats and time to deploy.

9. Other Methods Can be Considered… Acoustic Deterrent and Harassment Devices Air Guns Mid-Frequency sonar Whale calls Strobe lights Fire Hoses Vessel traffic Other methods of hazing using various acoustic signals and other stimuli have been proposed in the past and can be considered but these would require specific approval from NOAA prior to implementation and at the current time there is less experience with their use and evidence of efficacy compared to the pre-approved methods. This may change with future research.Other methods of hazing using various acoustic signals and other stimuli have been proposed in the past and can be considered but these would require specific approval from NOAA prior to implementation and at the current time there is less experience with their use and evidence of efficacy compared to the pre-approved methods. This may change with future research.

10. Remaining Work Identify who will conduct hazing activities and get agreement(s) in place for timely response. Identify quantities of equipment needed and guidelines on use. Develop an Implementation Plan. In conclusion, although the level of preparation for taking actions to protect killer whales has been significantly advanced their remains much work to implement these plans in a pragmatic manner. Specifically, we need to identify who will conduct hazing activities and get agreement(s) in place for timely response. We need to identify quantities of equipment needed and guidelines for its use. We also expect to continue to work cooperatively with industry and the response contractors as well as the whale watch community, research and commercial to set up the infrastructure to implement these plans.In conclusion, although the level of preparation for taking actions to protect killer whales has been significantly advanced their remains much work to implement these plans in a pragmatic manner. Specifically, we need to identify who will conduct hazing activities and get agreement(s) in place for timely response. We need to identify quantities of equipment needed and guidelines for its use. We also expect to continue to work cooperatively with industry and the response contractors as well as the whale watch community, research and commercial to set up the infrastructure to implement these plans.

11. Don Noviello(360) 902-8124Noviedtn@dfw.wa.gov I would like to acknowledge that this plan was cooperatively developed with significant assistance from: Joe Gaydos -Sea Doc Society Brent Norberg and Lynne Barre - NOAA Ruth Yender NOAA SSC LCDR Martin Smith USCG Thanks you very much. I now have a few minutes for questions.I would like to acknowledge that this plan was cooperatively developed with significant assistance from: Joe Gaydos -Sea Doc Society Brent Norberg and Lynne Barre - NOAA Ruth Yender NOAA SSC LCDR Martin Smith USCG Thanks you very much. I now have a few minutes for questions.