Summary
July 19, 2023, the City of Arcata, California signed a non-binding Proclamation declaring the rights of the Southern Resident Orcas, which include “the right to: life, autonomy, culture, free and safe passage, adequate food supply from naturally occurring sources, and freedom from conditions causing physical, emotional, or mental harm, including a habitat degraded by noise, pollution and contamination.” The Proclamation also describes the City of Arcata’s support for action by local, state, federal and tribal governments that secure and effectuate the inherent rights of the Southern Resident Orcas.
The City of Arcata is the first Proclamation of the rights of the Southern Resident Orca in California. This Proclamation follows similar proclamations in the state of Washington by the cities of Port Townsend, Gig Harbor, Langley, Bainbridge Island, and Des Moines, as well as Jefferson County, San Juan County, and Pierce County, and most recently – the City of Depoe Bay, Oregon on June 6, 2023.
The campaign to recognize the rights of the Southern Resident Orca is led by the Earth Law Center (ELC) and partner, Legal Rights for the Salish Sea (LRSS), to protect and recover their population and the ecosystems on which they depend. The long-term goal is State level recognition of the population’s inherent rights. The campaign was launched in 2018 and in 2022 ELC created a template resolution that serves as the basis for the subsequent local-level proclamations.
Involved Organizations
Related Initiatives
Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2025. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor.https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/city-of-arcata-u-s-proclamation-of-the-rights-of-the-southern-resident-orcas/.
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