Summary
On February 7, 2023, San Juan County, Washington, signed a non-binding Proclamation declaring the rights of the Southern Resident Orcas, which include the “right to life, culture, free and safe passage, adequate food supply, and freedom from conditions causing physical, emotional, or mental harm, including a habitat degraded by noise, pollution and contamination.” The proclamation also describes San Juan county’s support for “action by state, federal and tribal governments that secure and effectuate the rights of Southern Resident Killer Whales and of the ecosystems upon which they depend.”
This Proclamation follows similar proclamations in Washington State by the cities of Port Townsend, Gig Harbor, and Langley in December 2022, and Jefferson County in January 2023. San Juan became the second county to pass such a proclamation.
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.