The federal government has announced updated measures to safeguard the endangered Southern Resident killer whales off the British Columbia coast. Effective June 1 to November 30, 2025, two mandatory speed restriction zones near Swiftsure Bank and two vessel exclusion zones off Pender and Saturna Islands will be in place. A voluntary slowdown in Tumbo Channel and continued 400-metre minimum distance rules across southern coastal waters remain in effect until May 31, 2026. Additional actions include fishing closures in key foraging areas, new proposed regulations to increase the approach distance to 1,000 metres, and efforts to reduce marine contaminants. The government will continue collaborating with First Nations, tourism operators, and stakeholders to support whale recovery.
