The DFO’s Luna Dilemma

Friday, June 18, 2004
HANSON ISLAND, BC - Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans risks ridicule and escalating tensions if it refuses the offer of Nootka Sound First Nations to participate in reuniting Luna with his orca community. The offer is a huge concession from the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, who had hitherto wanted Luna to remain with them until he found his own way out of Nootka Sound. The idea presented to the DFO by Chief Mike Maquinna is that paddlers, drummers and singers would accompany Luna in traditional canoes on an ocean journey back to his Southern Resident orca community off the southern coast of Vancouver Island. If the offer is accepted soon, Luna could meet his pod again soon, quite possibly even sooner than under the DFO’s present plan, and at much lower cost.

The alternative is a continued daily standoff. On one side is the DFO in two high tech high speed $150,000 zodiacs hoping to lead Luna into their trap. On the other side are a couple of traditional dug out canoes, paddling along to the harmony of native voices and the beating of drums, with Luna beside them. Sometimes Luna is with the DFO boats, but most often he is with the canoes, swimming alongside and engaging the people on board who regard him as their close kin. The contrasting imagery is compelling, and the drama is quickly attracting a world wide audience. To the DFO the First Nations are breaking the law – a fine of $100,000 can be levied against anyone who touches a wild orca – but the sympathy of the watching audience is largely with the paddlers. The DFO says it’s willing to be patient while the First Nations conduct their spiritual rituals, but one wonders how long patience will prevail. It is widely known that the DFO and RCMP are prepared to use pepper spray and tazer guns to control protesters, and have advised Gold River medics to prepare for injuries. So the question of patience comes down to “how long?”

Chief Maquinna’s offer is not only about a way to avoid an impending conflict, it is also a way for the DFO to get what it wants. Reuniting Luna with his orca community via an ocean journey would solve the public safety problem he presents to the DFO. Luna would leave Nootka Sound. So why not consider the offer? Instead - from news reports – the DFO’s answer is a flat “no”.

The DFO has long known about the “boat follow” alternative to its hard capture and move “Plan B” scenario for Luna, and to some extent has even endorsed it. “Plan A”, which envisioned Luna reuniting naturally by swimming out to L Pod near Nootka Sound, included a boat follow component. The DFO even tested it by taking Luna as far as the entrance to Nootka Sound on 2 occasions. As things turned out, L Pod took the “inside” route to their summer range off southern Vancouver Island, and not the more common west coast route, so they did not pass Nootka Sound on their way south and the plan fell to the wayside.

Despite the DFO’s stated intention to wait until all the Southern Resident pods were back in southern Vancouver Island waters, they moved quickly to implement Plan B - knowing that orcas Luna was familiar with were still somewhere off the west coast of Vancouver Island. One pod, K Pod, along with part of L Pod, was last seen off Tofino on May 17th, and has not been sighted since. These orcas may not far away from Nootka Sound, perhaps off La Perouse Bank near Barclay Sound. This area is one of the orcas’ favourite fishing spots and is located about half way between Nootka Sound and Juan de Fuca Strait. Most of L Pod, including Luna’s mother, has been traveling out of Juan de Fuca Strait to the west coast, and then back again, for the past 2 weeks.

The ocean journey for Luna that Chief Maquinna has proposed is not as difficult or risky as the DFO claims. It was considered briefly by the DFO’s Science Panel last year, but not pursued because of harsh fall weather conditions off the west coast. But now we are in summer, and the ocean is a much friendlier place. First Nations paddlers have traveled in canoes down the west coast many times before, they are comfortable on the ocean. Taking Luna along with them is a challenge, certainly, but by no means impossible.

If the DFO were sensible as problem solvers, they would sit down with Chief Maquinna and talk about practical details involved in implementing his idea. One need is to ensure that Luna does not become lost along the way – a suction cup radio tag could accomplish this; another need is to ensure the safety and welfare of the paddlers on the week long journey – a tender vessel could accomplish this. Underlying these practicalities is the need is to ensure that Luna finds his place in his orca community once again, and that it happens in a spirit of cooperation.

Springer’s return to her northern resident orca community in 2002 was accomplished with a wonderful spirit of cooperation from agencies and governments and diverse groups that included First Nations. Is it too much to hope that something similar can happen for Luna?

By Dr. Paul Spong
Director of OrcaLab, Hanson Island, BC
Email: orcalab@island.net
Tel/fax: 250-974-8068
www.orcalab.org

For More Information: