The following was released May 29 by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

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L98 in Nootka Sound

VANCOUVER -- As boating season gears up in Nootka Sound, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) asks recreational and commercial boaters to help protect our marine mammals from disturbance. L98, a lone killer whale, has made Nootka Sound his home since July 2001. For the safety of the whale and the public, boaters are asked to use caution around this animal.

There has been considerable public interest in L98, a Southern Resident killer whale. "The occurrence of a solitary animal is unusual because resident killer whales normally travel in cohesive family groups," says Dr. John Ford, a marine mammal scientist at DFO and a well respected authority on killer whales.

DFO convened a scientific panel of Canadian and US experts that have evaluated what the best options are for L98's future. Both DFO and the panel of experts agreed that this is a complex and unusual situation and the reasons for L98's solitary existence are not clear. Intervention in this situation poses risks for both the whale and the public and the likelihood of a successful reintroduction cannot be assured.

The panel felt that it may be possible to lead L98 out into open waters where he may be more likely to "naturally" reunite with his pod. However, this approach has the potential to further condition L98 to humans, and increase his unnatural interest in humans.

L98 is healthy, active and growing. Although remarkable progress has been made in whale research, still very little is known about the processes that structure their social relationships.

"We believe that interfering in what may be a natural and potentially important process is not in the best interest of this whale or the Southern Resident population at this time," says Marilyn Joyce, Marine Mammal Coordinator for Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

DFO will continue to monitor the situation and asks that the public stay away from this whale and abide by locally posted guidelines for the safety of the whale and themselves.

Help L98 by minimizing its contact with boats. Close human interactions with wild marine mammals can affect their ability to cope and live in their natural habitat. Under the Fisheries Act it is illegal to disturb a marine mammal. Violators can be fined up to $100,000.

Conservation and Protection officers will be patrolling the area to provide information and to remind boaters to stay away from L98 and allow him to live as a wild whale.

For more information:
Marilyn Joyce Marine Mammal Coordinator
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
(604) 666-9965
Please visit our web site at: http://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca