Washington Governor Calls for Emergency Orca Task Force

Today, Governor Jay Inslee, joined by tribal and conservation leaders from across the region, issued an executive order outlining near- and long-term actions the state plans to take to prevent the extinction of two icons of the Pacific Northwest: Chinook salmon and Southern Resident orcas. One of these proposals is the creation of an Orca Recovery Taskforce that will include government staff, regional scientists and advocates. This taskforce would advise the Governor on future actions the state can pursue to restore salmon and orcas.

Robb Krehbiel, Northwest representative for Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement:

“Southern Resident orcas are on the verge of extinction. To save them, we need bold action immediately. The issues impacting Southern Resident orcas are varied, and tackling them will require coordination between partners across the orcas’ entire range: from the Salish Sea to the Pacific Coast to the Columbia Basin. We applaud Governor Inslee for issuing this executive order, which is an important first step to ensure that we don’t lose the heart of the Salish Sea. We look forward to working with the Governor, the Orca Recovery Taskforce and other stakeholders to ensure the survival of these orcas.”