Band Takes On Luna Stewardship, But
Funds Still Under Negotiation

Thursday, July 21, 2005
GOLD RIVER, BC - Sun and salmon are drawing fishing and pleasure boats to the spectacular waters of Nootka Sound, the home turf of Luna the solitary orca.

But the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation's hopes for money to pay for boats to shepherd Luna away from potential trouble, and representatives on the docks to educate visitors, remain in limbo, despite a year of meetings.

The good news is that--so far-- the troublesome orca, who has shown a fondness for tearing rudders off boats, has been less disruptive than last year.

The five-year-old whale has had only a couple of significant run-ins with boats this year, including tearing the rudder off a coast guard service boat last month.

Band members are handing out information telling boaters not to stop their vessels if they see Luna., and suggesting they turn off fish finders and depth sounders if the whale is in the area.

An observation post has been set up near Hanna Channel, and a band vessel has been on the water, according to Mowachaht/Muchalaht fisheries biologist Roger Dunlop.

Band members have intercepted Luna several times recently--usually because boats have stopped or are approaching the whale, Dunlop said.

Ed Lochbaum, Department of Fisheries and Oceans manager, said a funding offer has been made to the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, but no agreement has yet been reached.

Lochbaum would not say how much DFO is putting on the table, but said is based on a bare-bones budget. "We have started negotiations, but we're only about halfway there" he said.

The Mowachaht/Muchalaht initially estimated the cost of dockside education and boat patrols for 16 hours a day, seven days a week during the summer would be $177,000.

However, with less time left in fishing season, the figure now stands at $90,000. The budget has been submitted to DFO, but the First Nation also hopes to raise money from other sources.

The band estimates it has already spent about $9,000 on equipment to monitor Luna.

Meanwhile, sports fishermen will not be allowed to retain salmon caught in one area of Nootka Sound to encourage them to fish elsewhere, Lochbaum said.

Some have suggested sports fishing and boat traffic be banned in the area, but that hasn't happened.

"The notion is that we re going to monitor it and, if this doesn't meet the objectives, we will take further steps," Lochbaum said, noting bottom fishing will still be allowed.

Tim Cyr, owner of Nootka Island Fishing Lodge, said closing the area to salmon retention makes no sense, especially since bottom fishing will continue.

"Luna's more likely to go after the boats which are bottom fishing because they're standing still," he said. "This is just something to appease the public and make it look as if they're doing something."

Luna turned up in Nootka Sound four years ago. A DFO effort last year to capture the whale and truck him down Vancouver Island to rejoin his family in Juan de Fuca Strait was abandoned after the Mowachaht/Muchalaht lured the whale away from the net pen with canoes.

Source: The Victoria Times Colonist

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