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Offshore killer whale (Orcinus orca) management plan: chapter 8

Appendix III. Record of Cooperation and Consultation

Offshore Killer Whales are listed as a species of ‘special concern’ on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA).  As an aquatic species, Offshore Killer Whales fall under federal jurisdiction, and are managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) 200 - 401 Burrard Street, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3S4.

There are few people in Canada, or elsewhere, with the scientific, technical, traditional or local knowledge of Offshores.  As a result, DFO brought together a small internal working group of technical experts in science and management to develop an initial draft of this management plan. 

A Cetacean Management Planning Technical Workshop was hosted in November of 2007 to provide a forum for the sharing of knowledge and expertise on a number of ‘special concern’ cetaceans for which management plans were developed.  A group of scientific and technical experts including independent researchers, environmental non-governmental organizations, and other governmental (federal and provincial) staff from both Canada and the United States were contacted to attend this workshop.   An invitation letter was sent to all coastal First Nations soliciting their participation in the workshop.  This workshop was invaluable in assisting the DFO internal working group in drafting the Management Plan for Offshore Killer Whales in Canada.  Given that the population considered in this management plan frequents both Canadian and United States (U.S.) waters, bilateral government and non-government input and collaboration was sought. 

A draft version of the management plan was posted to the DFO Pacific Region website for public comment period from April 7 to May 12, 2008.  These consultations were web-based, but also included mail-outs to all coastal First Nations. An initial draft (April 2008) of the management plan, a discussion guide and feedback form were made available. In addition, a message announcing the development of the management plan was sent to a marine mammal list serve (MARMAM) with a broad local and international distribution to marine mammal researchers and interested parties, and to a distribution list of whale-related contacts provided to DFO in recent years from environmental groups, non-governmental organizations, government agencies, and the eco-tourism sector. 

Comments on the draft management plan were received from six independent sources and from two government agencies: Environment Canada and the Province of B.C.  Processes for coordination and consultation between the federal and British Columbian governments on management and protection of species at risk are outlined in the Canada-B.C. Agreement on Species at Risk (2005). Natural Resources Canada, Department of National Defence, Parks Canada and Transport Canada provided no comments on the 2008 draft document.  No First Nations responded to consultation letters.  

A proposed version of the management plan was posted on the SARA Public Registry for a 60-day comment period from September 10 to November 9, 2009.  Comments were received from non-governmental organizations, academia, and one government agency.  All feedback has been carefully considered and incorporated into the final management plan as appropriate. Peer review of the document was not considered necessary as applicable experts were in attendance at the Cetacean Management Planning Technical Workshop and were provided an opportunity to provide input through public consultation.

DFO Technical Team for Offshore Killer Whales

Cetacean Management Planning Technical Workshop Participants:

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