A coalition of conservation groups have won what they call a landmark
decision in an effort to better protect B.C. killer whales and their
habitat.

In Federal Court on Tuesday, a decision in favour of
Ecojustice, representing nine environmental groups, ruled that the
Department of Fisheries and Oceans failed to adequately protect critical
habitat of B.C.’s killer whales by failing to properly interpret its
own laws, resulting in a breach of the Species at Risk Act.

The case arose from a Protection Statement issued by DFO in
2008 that sought to legally protect critical habitat using voluntary
guidelines and non-binding laws and policies.

In 2009, the federal government issued a Protection Order for
resident killer whale critical habitat that ignored biological aspects
such as water quality, noise pollution and salmon stocks, which the
whales rely on for food.

“Everything we hoped the courts would rule in our favour, they
did. They really made it clear that the DFO simply mishandled how they
were dealing with the killer whales,’ said Christianne Wilhelmson,
executive director for the Nanaimo-based Georgia Strait Alliance.

Read full Nanaimo News Bulletin article here