Advocates highlight growing cases of orca harassment, whales fight back

Just 73 Southern Residents remain, as Washington’s treasured orcas are dwindling yearly.

Several factors are leading to their decline, but one that can’t be ignored-- is us. Orca advocate Tisa Annette tells KIRO 7 that local orcas are facing additional stressors.

“The daily life of the orcas is one of harassment, unfortunately,” says Annette. She provided a video of boaters getting brazen out on the water, coming within feet of orcas. She says the harassment is happening daily.

Washington state law calls for boats to stay 300 yards away from Southern Resident killer whales. Tisa says more enforcement is needed.

Tisa says her concern is not just for whales but for people as well. She told KIRO 7 that some orcas are becoming more aggressive in light of the human harassment throughout the sound.

“Last weekend, one of the orca males rammed into a kayak,” says Annette. “They’re trying so hard to show us. But people are not paying attention to the signs.”

In a new ‘Nature’ study, researchers highlight ‘an accelerating decline in critically endangered killer whales.’ Noting that Southern Residents are ‘declining by one percent each year.’

Tisa worried that actions from boaters would only accelerate the orcas’ extinction.

“We are looking at the end times for them if we don’t do something very quickly,” says Annette.