Southern resident orcas J41 & J51. Photo: Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research

There are more than 125 marine species at risk in and around Georgia Strait, a number that has nearly doubled in the last five years.

The focus of many of our programs and initiatives is working toward the protection and recovery of species at risk, through legal efforts to improve the implementation of the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), education to raise awareness of what each of us can do to protect these vulnerable species and efforts to protect critical habitat through marine planning.

We also work with the scientific community to ensure that the latest information on threats to at risks species are made available and partner with scientists and other groups to understand and mitigate these threats.  We hold governments and industry to account on their obligations to marine life, and challenge decisions that will negatively affect the Strait.

Protection of species at risk such as the southern resident killer whale is one of the motivators that inspired the formation of the Georgia Strait Alliance– if we protect killer whale habitat, we protect the Strait.

Learn more about these iconic species that need our protection:  Southern Resident orcas  |  Pacific salmon