NOAA Fisheries Service today released its final recovery plan for Puget Sound's killer whales, saying that recovery of the region's iconic marine mammals will be a long-term effort requiring community support and that its plan provides a roadmap to help restore the population to healthy levels.

Killer Whales appear in Puget Sound typically in May, with some remaining into the fall before they leave for the open ocean in the winter months. Puget Sound killer whales are officially known as Southern Residents and this distinct population was listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act in late 2005. Today's recovery plan is a requirement of that listing.

... The agency said recovery of the Southern Resident killer whales requires cooperation from West Coast communites from California to British Columbia. The plan was developed with help from a variety of stake-holders, including federal and state agencies, tribes, non-profit groups, industries, the academic community, and concerned citizens. Development of this plan was closely coordinated with the state of Washington and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Read the entire Press Release and view the Recovery Plan here.