News Releases

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN) signed an agreement on Wednesday that will inject about $48,000 into a Luna monitoring effort. The meeting was held in Gold River, a few kilometers away from Nootka Sound.

Luna (L98) is a five-year-old male Southern Resident orca whale currently residing in Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. He became separated from his family over three years ago and has been a solitary whale ever since. Resident orcas normally spend their entire lives within the pod to which they are born. Orcas are very sociable within their pods. They travel, feed, play, interact and communicate with each other constantly. In the absence of his orca pod, Luna is lonely and seeks attention during the summer months.

Bill Shaw, a DFO spokesperson who was at the meeting and who participating in negations said that the meeting went well and he is very encouraged.

MMFN Chief Mike Macquinna told CTV news that “A working relationship has been developed, and had this happened at the very beginning, this relationship would not have seemed as strained."

The new stewardship agreement will see DFO, the Canadian Coast Guard and MMFN take a more active role in removing Luna from troubling situations.

Bill Shaw noted that DFO Fisheries vessels would be the first responders to any situation, with the Coast Guard as a back up. MMFN stewards, who have just received an “Incidental Harm Permit”, will assist DFO and the Coast Guard in leading Luna to safety.

The goal of this effort is to lead Luna towards the open waters through Hanna Channel. This is an area where there is an abundance of Chinook salmon, which is one of Luna’s preferred foods. Additionally, there is minimal boat traffic there and Luna would be within acoustic range of the ocean.

The number of interactions involving Luna decreased last week, which is welcome news.

There were fears that the gillnet fishery on Wednesday night would lead to interactions. There were about 40 vessels in the fishery, but there were no interactions. Luna did spend some time near one boat, but did not interfere with the fishery which ended at 4:00 am on Thursday.

Luna has not been seen since that time, nor has he been heard on hydrophones. ReuniteLuna has asked vessels in the area to report sightings of him to DFO and MMFN stewards. We have also asked vessels to report inappropriate engagement or interactions.

In a CTV news article last night, a fisherman said, “"I respect the whale, but there are ways to get the sucker out of here. Did you ever hear of dynamite? He (Luna) ain't going to like dynamite.” Calls to DFO Minister Geoff Regan for comment on this threat have not been returned.

With the stewardship agreement in place, DFO and MMFN briefly discussed next steps. ReuniteLuna now calls on DFO commence 24/7 monitoring and urges the two organizations to quickly come to an agreement on Luna’s reunification.

Basically, there's no reunion if Luna is dead. Luna needs protection now.