Prompted by Senate Bill 5371, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is convening the Orca Regulations Communications Advisory (ORCA) Group in 2023 to inform the development of outreach and education strategies designed to support public awareness and compliance with the mandatory 1,000-yard vessel buffer around endangered Southern Resident killer whales. This buffer will go into effect in January 2025.
The advisory group will include representatives from the recreational boating, commercial whale watching, and commercial fishing industries, as well as ports and marinas, government entities, nongovernmental organizations, tribes, and researchers. The group will meet beginning in early 2024 and will sunset in summer 2025.
Get updates
To receive updates on developments related to the work of the Orca Regulations Communications Advisory (ORCA) Group, please sign up for our SRKW mailing list.
At the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, we celebrate diverse individuals who bring a wide range of perspectives. All are welcome to participate in our processes regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability.
Contacts and member info
Members
Guidelines
Contacts
Julie Watson
Killer Whale Policy Lead
julie.watson@dfw.wa.gov
Benjamin Anderson
Communications Manager
benjamin.anderson@dfw.wa.gov
Aaron Provencio
Killer Whale Outreach and Education Specialist
aaron.provencio@dfw.wa.gov
Meeting calendar
ORCA group meetings will be viewable by the public, and any interested community members are welcome to attend virtually. Meeting materials will be publicly accessible on this page and are expected to be made available in advance of each meeting. Please note that these meetings will be conducted via Zoom webinar, and while members of the public will not be able to interact directly with group members or project staff, there will be an opportunity to provide public comment.
| Date | Location | Meeting materials |
|---|---|---|
9 a.m. - 12 p.m., Sept. 30, 2024
|
Virtual (Click here to register and tune in) |
|
9:30 - 11 a.m., Sept. 12, 2024
|
Virtual Boater Engagement Workshop #2 (register here) |
|
9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Aug. 20, 2024
|
Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve: Large Meeting Room |
|
9 - 10:30 a.m., June 20, 2024
|
Virtual Boater Engagement Workshop #1 (See attached flyer for details and register here) |
|
9 a.m. - 12 p.m., June 10, 2024
|
Virtual (Click here to register and tune in) |
|
1 - 4 p.m., April 18, 2024
|
Virtual (Click here to register, and tune in) |
|
2 - 4 p.m., March 13, 2024
|
Virtual (Click here to register, and tune in)
|