Invitation to participate in boater engagement workshops for Southern Resident Killer Whale recovery

by Recreational Boating Association of Washington 15 Jun 16:38 PDT

Southern resident killer whale leaping in water © NOAA Fisheries

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and its Orca Regulations Communications Advisory (ORCA) Group seeks input from the Salish Sea recreational boater community to inform its education, outreach, and communications work related to Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) and related vessel regulations (as directed by the Washington State Legislature in the 2023-24 Senate Bill 5371).

Your perspectives will ground this important work in reality and lead to more effective communication that will ultimately support SRKW recovery.

How can you participate?

WDFW and the ORCA Group are hosting two online workshops—you are welcome to join one or both:

Workshop 1: Anticipating 2025 Vessel Regulations

Date and Time: Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 9:30am - 11:00am, PDT.

Description: Vessel regulations being implemented in 2025 may raise many questions for boaters. Join this workshop to learn about the upcoming regulations and actions you can take this boating season to prepare for the change, and to share your concerns and communication suggestions through small-group discussions.

Registration: Register here.

Workshop 2: Shaping 2025 Education, Outreach, and Communication Efforts

Date and Time: Thursday, September 12, 2024, from 9:30am - 11:00am, PDT.

Description: In this workshop, we will collect feedback on initial education, outreach, and/or communication plans related to the 2025 vessel regulations to ensure WDFW and the ORCA Group efforts are effective. More information about this workshop will be forthcoming later this summer.

Registration: Register here.

For more information and the agenda, please visit the ORCA Group Website.

Questions? Contact!