Summary
On March 9 2023, the Des Moines City Council (WA) 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’s support for action by local, state, federal and tribal governments that secure and effectuate the inherent rights of the Southern Resident Orcas.
This declaration follows similar proclamations in the state of Washington by the cities of Port Townsend, Gig Harbor, and Langley (December 2022), Jefferson County and San Juan County (January and February 2023), and the most recent – the city of Bainbridge Island on February 14 2023.
The campaign to recognize the rights of the Southern Resident Orca is led by the Earth Law Center (ELC) and local partner organization, Legal Rights for the Salish Sea (LRSS). The long-term goal is state-level recognition of the population’s inherent rights to protect and recover their population and the ecosystems. 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-des-moines-wa-u-s-proclamation-of-the-rights-of-the-southern-resident-orcas/.
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