#nrkw

Northern Haida Gwaii waters declared “critical habitat” for orca

Andrew Hudson - December 21, 2018

Orca know it, and now the DFO does, too — northern resident killer whales need the fishing grounds north of Graham Island to survive. Jonathan Wilkinson, the minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), made it official on Wednesday, Dec. 19. A 1,394 km2 area north of Haida Gwaii is now protected as “critical habitat” under Canada’s species-at-risk law. It means the DFO can take extra measures to protect the area, starting with steps to avoid the three key threats to northern resident killer whales: lack of Chinook salmon, shipping noise, and pollution. Sport fishers and Masset village councillors already expressed concerns about the change when it was first proposed in August, worried that it may hurt the several fishing lodges and chartered fishing companies in northern Haida Gwaii, as well as summer flights to and from Masset Airport.

“We will work to address concerns expressed by some coastal communities regarding potential economic impacts,” said a ministry press release, which noted that the DFO is consulting stakeholders and Indigenous groups as it considers fisheries decisions and the creation of whale sanctuaries. The legal change does not mean there will be automatic fishery closures. Besides the waters north of Haida Gwaii, last week’s announcement also protected a new area southwest of Vancouver Island for the more critically threatened population of southern resident killer whales. The new southern zone includes the Swiftsure and La Pérouse Banks.

“A41′s identity”

Researchers have long used the combination of dorsal fin and saddle patch to identify individual killer whales. Being able to recognise individuals helps them understand more about the social lives of these animals, where they go, who they associate with, and overall how a population is doing. But some whales are never identified. Some because they are so seldom seen, others sadly perish before their photo could ever be taken. A41 is one of those animals. They were born in 1984 into the A24 matriline of the A4 pod, which is part of the Northern Resident community. Sadly A41 passed away within their first year.

A41 never got much recognition. In fact hardly anything is known about this little whale, including gender or appearance. As far as I am aware no photographs of them exists, which is exactly why this piece came into being. This painting was commissioned to show what a dorsal fin ID photo of A41 may have looked like. Although her appearance has been made up, it is informed by those of other members of the A24 matriline. The slightly open saddle in particular is a hint back to A41’s mother A24 ‘Kelsey,’ who had a similar hook in her saddle.

Here’s to all the whales out there who we know or don’t know. Who once were, who are now and who one day will be.

Here’s what I’ve been doing lately! These are all portrait sculptures of wild whales, following available photo references as closely as possible.

The top is J2 Granny, the first one I made. She’s a little too sausagy looking and her head is too long; might do a new one!

The second is A61 Surge of the NRKW. He was the first orca I ever adopted.