By Wolfgang Depner Vessels will have to steer one kilometre clear of endangered southern resident orcas under newly proposed federal regulations that are being applauded by commercial whale watchers. Erin Gless, executive director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association that represents 28 companies in Canada and the United States, says the organization “strongly supports” the proposed changes. The move would increase minimum distances from the whales from the current 200 metres. But Gless says that would make no difference to the association’s 0perators, which have not actively viewed southern residents from any distance in B.C. waters since 2019. The approach distance for other killer whales would remain at 200 metres. The Washington-state based Center for Whale Research says its census put the population of southern residents at 74, as of…
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