Celebrate Orca Recovery Day | Saturday, October 17, 2020, and Everyday
This year Orca Recovery Day is being celebrated on Saturday, October 17. Here at Orca Conservancy we invite you to celebrate Orca Recovery Day every day by making some simple changes in your everyday life. Even small changes can add up to big solutions that will enable the Southern Residents to recover to their historical levels of 200-300 individuals. Remember, the three main threats the SRKWs face are lack of prey, noise pollution from vessels, and toxins in the waters. These suggestions help to mitigate these threats (images include links):
Vote – make sure you are always registered in your district to vote. Pay attention to the actions of your elected officials. Do they support breaching the Lower Snake River dams which will supply needed prey for the orcas? Do your elected officials support and uphold the EPA? the ESA? Are they concerned about climate change and do their votes reflect their concern? Want to get more involved? Join us here:
Reduce your use of single use plastics with the goal of eliminating them entirely from your life. Most single use plastics end up in the oceans, where they degrade and negatively impact the entire food chain. Southern Residents are apex predators. Their prey is highly contaminated with microplastics. Eliminating plastics reduces the toxins in the ocean. Want to know more? Read an excerpt here (the full academic article can be found on Research Gate):
Participate in a beach cleanup. Trash on the beach winds up being trash in the oceans, which is another key source of toxins in the water. You do not need to wait for organized beach cleanups to get the trash off the beaches. Gather family and friends and pick a beach to clean up. Remember to social distance and wear a mask though. Make this a monthly get-together. Post your work on social media to inspire others.
Eat less meat and eat more organic foods. Methods for producing food in the US have radically changed in the last 50 years. We have gone from local farmers producing most of our foods to huge corporate factory farms that degrade habitats. The byproducts of these practices end up in our oceans and in the Southern Residents. Learn more here:
Consume responsibly by following the 5 Rs – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle. Consuming responsibly also means shopping locally and not just for food. Imports enter our marketplace via huge container ships from countries such as China and others. These big ships in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Salish Sea are a leading cause of noise pollution and vessel disturbance to the SRKWs. Read here to learn more:
Mitigate climate change by reducing your use of fossil fuels. Drive less by making sure you schedule trips to maximize your time spent on the road. If possible, walk whenever you can for small chores. Use your bicycle if you have one instead of taking the car. If it is safe, use public transit. Turn off lights around the house and only use them in the room you are in. Monitor your heating and cooling habits – dress appropriately by adding sweaters instead of turning up the heat or open windows in the summer instead of turning on the air conditioner. Working to resolve climate change reduces ocean acidification and makes for a safe environment for the SRKWs. Want to know more? Use the EPA guide:
Check out your local conservation district to find out more ideas for steps you can take to participate in Orca Recovery Day. Better Ground is their free web resource listing action items, events, and more:
