Luna Is Going Home!

Monday, April 5, 2004
VICTORIA - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), in collaboration with NOAA Fisheries (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is pleased to announce a plan to relocate the juvenile killer whale L98, also known as Luna, to its pod in the Juan de Fuca Strait, and the partners that will work with each agency to implement the plan.

DFO will partner with the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre to lead the capture, care, transport and release of L98 to the Juan de Fuca Strait area. NOAA will partner with The Whale Museum, in Friday Harbour, WA to lead the post-release monitoring program in collaboration with DFO enforcement officials. Canadian and US scientists will provide advice in the planning process and will assist in all aspects of relocation.

The US and Canadian governments have contributed $100,000 (US) and $130,000 (CDN) respectively toward the relocation effort, and although these contributions are significant, more funds will be required before relocation can proceed. The Vancouver Aquarium will lead fundraising in cooperation with The Whale Museum.

The timing of relocation will depend on the actual movements of L-pod, the ability of the partner organizations to raise additional funding and the in-kind resources needed to complete the project. Typically L-pod returns to the Juan de Fuca area in early June. It is hoped that funding and arrangements will be in place to move L98 by this time. DFO will work with whale experts to assure that relocation takes place when L98 has the best possible chance of successfully reuniting with his pod.

Both agencies are also prepared to attempt to reunite Luna with his pod near Nootka Sound if L-pod can be located in that area before its anticipated arrival in the Juan de Fuca area in June. Given the rarity of sightings of L-pod at this time of year, the opportunity for an earlier reunification is unlikely and the planning to physically relocate Luna is proceeding as our primary focus.

L98 is a solitary killer whale that has been frequenting the waters of Nootka Sound at the mouth of Gold River since the spring of 2001. Luna’s interactions with people and boats put the public and the whale at risk. To protect the public and the whale, the one tonne mammal will be moved from Nootka Sound to Juan de Fuca Strait on the west coast of Vancouver Island with the hope that he will cease his interactions with boats and people if given the opportunity to reunite with his pod. L98 is a member of the family group known as L-pod.

While it is hoped that he will reunite his with his family group and no longer be a public risk, scientists agree the likelihood of success is unknown.

“Our goal is to do what is best for L98 and L-pod, while protecting the public,” said Minister Geoff Regan Fisheries and Oceans. “We all want this to succeed.”

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