Town Hall Seattle and Oceans Initiative present
Act Now: Saving Our Orcas
The Future of Southern Resident Killer Whales
EVENT NOTES
Doors for this event will open at 6:30 PM. Town Hall events are approximately 75 minutes long.
Join Town Hall and Oceans Initiative for an evening exploring the future of the Southern Resident killer whales – now numbering just 74 individuals, and perilously close to extinction. Moderated by award-winning journalist and author Lynda Mapes, this timely conversation brings together leading voices in conservation, including Oceans Initiative scientists Erin Ashe and Rob Williams, Tribal leader Jay Julius, SeaDoc Society wildlife veterinarian Joe Gaydos, and Raincoast Conservation Foundation salmon biologist Misty MacDuffee.
This event offers an opportunity to explore the science, stories, and solutions shaping the future of Southern Resident killer whales. Drawing on expertise in killer whale ecology, wildlife health, salmon conservation, and Indigenous stewardship, the panelists will discuss the latest on the whales’ recovery, the interconnected challenges they face, and the collaborative efforts underway to protect them. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of what recovery will require of us, and why the future of these whales is inseparable from the health of Puget Sound and the Salish Sea.
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Lynda Mapes is a journalist and nature writer, specializing in native cultures and natural history of the Pacific Northwest. Among other works, she wrote the book Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home.
Erin Ashe is co-founder and Executive Director of Oceans Initiative. She is a conservation scientist with expertise in dolphin population dynamics and behavior and is motivated by a desire to use research to make tangible conservation impact.
Joe Gaydos is a wildlife veterinarian and the Science Director for the SeaDoc Society, a marine conservation program of the UC Davis Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center.
Jay Julius is a fisherman and Former Chairman and Councilman at Lummi Nation. A bridge-builder, he uses empathy and storytelling to bring people together.
Misty MacDuffee serves as the Wild Salmon Director for Raincoast Conservation Foundation. She is a conservation biologist with a focus on salmon ecosystems.
Rob Williams is co-founder and Chief Scientist at Oceans Initiative. He conducts research to better understand the conservation status of marine predators like Southern Resident killer whales and to help guide effective recovery plans.
Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Oceans Initiative.
Events are offered for informational, entertainment, and educational purposes only. Read Town Hall’s Program Content Policy.