Report: Orcas' recovery will take decades

SEATTLE - The National Marine Fisheries Service has released a recovery plan for Puget Sound killer whales that it says will take a decades-long effort requiring coordination by agencies from California to British Columbia.

The Puget Sound orca population was listed in late 2005 as an endangered species. The agency says removing the killer whales from the endangered list could take 28 years and cost $50 million.

The major threats to orcas are the availability of food -- chinook salmon -- the damage of pollution and the disturbance of vessel traffic and noise.

The plan calls for supporting salmon recovery, cleaning up pollution and preventing oil spills, and minimizing underwater sounds while studying the effect of ships and boats.

There currently are 88 killer whales in the "Southern Resident" population that spends its summers in Puget Sound and winters in the open ocean.

The critical habitat covers 2,500 square miles, including Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and around the San Juan Islands.

The population experienced an alarming decline of almost 20 percent from 1996 to 2001, when only 79 animals were counted. The current population stands at 88, although at its peak in the 1990s, it was as high as 97 animals.

The Fisheries Service said there is considerable uncertainty regarding which threats were responsible for the decline in the  population or which may be most important to address for recovery. The recovery plan identifies ongoing conservation programs and calls for action in a  variety of areas.

Killer whales, which are actually the world's largest variety of  dolphin, are found in every ocean. Males, generally larger than females,  can reach close to 30 feet at maturity and weigh more than 15,000 pounds.

The agency said recovery of the Southern Resident killer whales requires  cooperation from West Coast communities from California to British  Columbia.

The plan was developed with help from a variety of stakeholders, including federal and state agencies, tribes, nonprofit groups, industries, the academic community and concerned citizens. 

Development of the plan was closely coordinated with the state of  Washington and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

To view the plan, click here.