Wednesday, May 9th is #GiveBIG
Dear Friends,
Since 1996 Orca Conservancy has accomplished a lot by being a small nonprofit! Check it out!
- We were collaborative partners in the rescue and rehabilitation of Springer.
- We worked together to save orcas trapped on the Dungeness Spit.
- We have worked with political leaders in numerous initiatives in both the USA and Canada.
- We rallied to stop the Tidal Turbine project in Admiralty Inlet due to the increased water temperature and sound interference it would cause to the Southern Residents.
- We worked with government leaders and officials to free the Klamath.
- We are leaders in working with the Our Sound, Our Salmon Coalition in legislative initiatives to remove the harmful, disease ridden fish farms in Puget Sound
- We work tirelessly to continuously find new ways of making a difference in the lives of our Southern Resident Killer Whales.
Now in our 22nd year, with all we have accomplished, it seems like a drop in the bucket compared to what lies in our future! There has never been a more critical time in our history that our Southern Residents need help, and we are stepping up to do more.
This year we are blessed to have several new opportunities and board members with new passions, talents and abilities that will help lead in these new initiatives. We will also be partnering with other organizations to make an even bigger difference in the years to come!
This year, with your financial support, together, we will make an even greater impact in this upcoming year! On Wednesday, May 9th the GiveBIG campaign kicks off! We hope to have your support, or you just click on the link below to give a donation.
Learn more below on how your donation will help us help the whales. Thank you in advance for being a part through your financial contributions!
RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC RESTORATION
Since our inception, our organization has made great strides to get to the truth and core of issues that our Southern Resident population faces. We make a conscious effort to utilize scientific principles and evidence, while working collaboratively with other organizations, scientists and government officials to assist in our accomplishments.Orca Conservancy is well known for our collaboration with world experts, research institutions, government officials and environmental agencies to make positive change for our endangered SRKW population.Our Board President, Shari Tarantino, leads many forms of outreach and initiatives that we face daily.
EDUCATION
Education and public outreach plays a significant role in Orca Conservancy’s mission, which is to address the most critical issues facing the endangered Southern Resident killer whales that reside in the Salish Sea. As part of our educational mission, with educators/board members Kelly Hayward and Dr. Dave Bain, Orca Conservancy is working with scientists and educators to produce endangered killer whale focused curriculum for grades K-12. Our goal is to get these studies into classrooms across the Northwest and possibly beyond.So far, Orca Conservancy has been successful in participating in the annual National Biodiversity Teach-In live webinar, which is a student lead program at Elgin High School in Chicago. This exceptional program began in 2014 to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity and to inspire people to take action in its protection. Just recently Orca Conservancy has begun a collaboration with Nathan Hale High School in Seattle. Orca Conservancy and Nathan Hale High School teachers are teaming up to bring our endangered killer whale curriculum into their school and to work together, through education, to initiate interest, passion and knowledge of the issues that these endangered killer whales face.As part of our educational program we would like to offer, not only classroom curriculum, but in the field studies, which would include guided whale watch tours, shore side studies, school programs, field trips, expert guest speakers and community activities. Offering such programs and activities is a vital part of our conservation effort in hopes it inspires the next generation to support recovery efforts and conservation of the endangered killer whales and the habitat in which they live.
ORCASTARS/WE DAY
Starting in the 2018-2019 school year, Nathan Hale High School will be piloting a brand-new program called OrcaStars; a recognition program for businesses that practice “orca friendly” standards in their daily business.Nathan Hale High School Students will be co-designing with Orca Conservancy’s Dr. Dave Bain, Shari Tarantino and Suzanne Newman a program to develop all aspects, including fliers, video, public awareness materials, and best practices for a variety of types of businesses and organizations, to reduce the carbon/toxic footprint in their neighborhood.Students will call on local businesses, help to educate and consult on ways they can be more mindful of our environment. They will learn about the functionality of these businesses in the day-to-day, and understand more fully, how our behaviors can hurt our environment.Once a business meets pre-established criteria to “qualify” as an OrcaStar, the business will then be recognized with a certificate and listing on the Orca Conservancy website.We Day is a national educational charitable organization that recognizes students and lifts them up through their acts of public service in their community. To attend the gala event, students must earn their ticket. Featured at the We Day event are celebrities and public figures who encourage charitable acts and life enrichment.Nathan Hale’s We Day program will encompass a component that will help students be more mindful of the world around them in their own practices. They will present their program to an audience of over 15,000 students to bring greater awareness to their peers throughout Greater Puget Sound and at We Day 2019 at Key Arena in May of next year!Orca Conservancy hopes to create a blue print through this program, to expand OrcaStars to other schools that will bring about best practices in our retail and business sector and to our youth.
ENFORCEMENT
Orca Conservancy is initiating a land-based enforcement program that will be designed to be a “watch and alert” network that monitors and documents vessel behavior with the SRKWs, and distance measuring, to insure Orca Friendly Rules and Laws, especially in areas of critical habitat.Online reports with real-time sighting information allow boaters increased access to killer whales. In many cases, resulting with interactions taking place outside areas where enforcement agencies are prepared to provide protection. Thus Orca Conservancy proposes a neighborhood watch-like program where trained volunteers would document vessel behavior by videotaping and measuring distances between vessels and whales with a directional laser range-finder. We have consulted with enforcement agencies (NMFS, WDFW, San Juan County Sheriff), and they have all expressed willingness to work with us.It is our goal to help remind recreational boaters about Whale Wise rules, and to help educate the community how they can become more mindful of our Southern Resident population, and to create a perception that enforcement action is always possible, with a resulting increase in compliance with regulations. The Enforcement Project will be headed up by Orca Conservancy Board Directors, Scott West and Dr. Dave Bain.