Summary
On December 5, 2022, the city council of Port Townsend, Washington made a non-binding proclamation that Southern Resident Orca whales (and of the ecosystems upon which they depend) have legal rights. The proclamation states: “The rights of the Southern Resident Orcas include, but are not limited to, 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 urges local, State, federal, and tribal governments to take action to secure and effectuate the rights of the Southern Resident Orcas and of the marine ecosystems upon which they depend.
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.
Impact Statement
Port Townsend was the first city to pass such a proclamation. Similar proclamations across the Pacific Northwest subsequently followed, all of which are part of a broader campaign to protect and recognize the rights of the Southern Resident Orca and the Salish Sea ecosystem. 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. Currently, there is an active petition to recognize the rights of the orca at the state-level.
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/port-townsend-u-s-proclamation-of-the-rights-of-the-southern-resident-orcas/.
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