Huu-ay-aht Guardians Join W̱SÁNEĆ Marine Guardians for Guardian Exchange

From November 20 to 22, the Huu-ay-aht Guardians visited the W̱SÁNEĆ Guardians for a guardian exchange to share ideas, techniques, and knowledge. The trip to the city provided a good opportunity for the Huu-ay-aht team to reflect on another successful operational season and dream about what opportunities might fit into stewardship of the Huu-ay-aht ḥahuułi. The W̱SÁNEĆ Guardians are expert marine monitors who ensure respect of the orca in their traditional territories but also conduct several other stewardship activities. 

On November 21st, the Guardians came together to conduct two surveys: a microtrolling survey of juvenile salmon and a survey of sea lion haul outs to assess their populations. Near the end of the day, a while sighting occurred near Active Pass and the Guardians accompanied a small pod of orcas (kakaw̓in) to secure their safety as they entered a busy body of water.

The kakaw̓in in the Salish Sea face many threats including vessel and underwater noise pollution. Where the W̱SÁNEĆ and Huu-ay-aht Guardians operate, vessels must stay 400 m away and not position the vessels in the path of kakaw̓in. Boaters can be “whale wise” by stopping fishing within 1,000 meters of kakaw̓in, reducing speed to less than 7 nautical miles when within 1,000 meters of the nearest whale, turning off fish finders and echo sounders when safe to do so and if too close, placing the engine in neutral idle and allow animals to pass.

Figure 1 W̱SÁNEĆ and Huu-ay-aht Guardians. Photo by Kevin Peters

Inside Active Pass, there was already another pod of kakaw̓in who celebrated “podding up” with a dazzling display of behaviours (fin slapping, porpoising, etc.). During the display, a ferry entered the pass and immediately the Guardians went to work by flying a “Whale in Area” flag and hailing the large ferry to slow down. Those quick actions of “on the water” stewardship highlight the importance of Guardians to promote respect of the natural world. The display was well documented by the Guardian crew as well as a late afternoon hiker on Galiano (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/orca-pod-spotted-playing-as-reports-rise-1.7040361).