INSHORE WATERS PROGRAM

INSHORE WATERS PROGRAM<= /span>

Global Research and Rescue is a federally registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization committed to provide support to a= nimals in distress wherever they may be. GRR is a unique organization which was f= ounded to address natural and human impacts that affect animals throughout the wor= ld, and to help assist in their survival. GRR rescues, rehabilitates and releases individuals to the wild and conducts scientific research on populations. As part of our mission, GRR is pursuing funding to implement a r= ange of research programs to expedite the recovery of the Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale, which ranges from Northern Brit= ish Columbia to Central California.

One of these is the Inshore Waters Program. The purpose of the Inshore Waters Program is to develop the scientific knowledge essential = for the recovery of the Southern Resid= ent Killer Whale. Fewer than = 100 of these whales remain, and their population has declined over the last 10 years. Factors believed to ha= ve led to their listing under the Endangered Species Act include decline in= prey resources, exposure to toxic chemicals, and disturbance by human activities. In order to recov= er this population in a cost-effective manner, the relative importance of these and other factors must be determined, so a prioritized Recovery Plan can be developed and implemented. The Inshore Wa= ters Program, designed to start in the spring of 2006, will provide much-needed new data.

The Inshore= Waters Program consists of behavioral studies of killer whales in Washington State waters conduc= ted from small boats with supplemental data obtained from an unmanned vessel an= d an unmanned aircraft. It will be= led by Dr. D= avid Bain, whose 25 years of research have made him one of the world’s leading experts on k= iller whales, and Dr. Pete Schroeder, who has worked for 40 years in marine mammal medicine.

To determine the impo= rtance of food availability, we will assess the effects of prey abundance, distribution, availability, and other factors on whale distribution and movements; determine diet, metabolic rates and energy requirements; and determine whether Southern Residen= ts are limited by critical periods of scarce food resources. The results of this research will = aid in prioritizing restoration of habitats where the prey of killer whales are spawned and designating Critical Habitat for killer whales.<= /p>

&nbs= p; Toxic chemicals may impair the health and reproduction of killer whales. We= will assess overall health and identify respiratory pathogens carried by whales;= and determine pregnancy and calf survival rates. This information will contribute t= o our Rescue and= Health Program, as well as clarifying the biological significance of to= xic chemical exposure. The result= s of this research will aid in prioritizing the clean-up of toxic waste sites and preventing additional toxins from bio-accumulating in killer whales.

We will characterize the acoustic environment to determine the extent that ves= sels and other sources of sound disturb or harm Southern Residents (as evidenced by changes in social structure, behavior, and vocalizations); and the characteristics of vessels and operating practices = that influence the magnitude of these effects.&= nbsp; This research will lead to regulations to prevent disturbance from impairing the recovery of the species.

Our current fund-raising goal is $500,000.= The major items this would cover are: 1) the purchase of a (approxim= ate) 19’ vessel for close approaches to whales to monitor their health and more distant behavioral monitoring; 2) design and construction of an unmann= ed, remote-controlled vessel for plac= ing scientific instruments close to whales without disturbing them; 3) purchase= of an unmanned, remote-controlled bli= mp to carry a video camera for aerial observations of killer whales and their surroundings (including vessels and potential prey near the surface) without disturbing whales; 4) purchase of = an infrared video camera to continue research at night and thermal imaging for health and bioenergetic studies.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> It will also cover the purch= ase of scientific instruments, such as hydrophones, computers, digital still and in-air and underwater video camer= as, air and water quality monitors, and other devices to monitor the acoustical, biological and chemical features of the environment while we conduct research on the whales. In addition, we will purchase gear= to outfit the vessels. At full operation we will need annual support of $200,000 for salaries (Dr. Bain and field assistants) and operating expenses (fuel, other supplies, sample analysis, = and maintenance).

For more information, see www.grrescue.org= or contact Mr. Robert Wood at grr@att.net.