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There are multiple issues which impact the orca population of the Pacific Northwest specifically, and killer whales in general given their global displacement. Thus, in listing some of the most threatening, I will also given interpretation and conclusions. not the least of which is prey loss. On the west coast, 13 species of salmon--the primary prey for resident and offshore killer whales--have been listed as threatened or endangered. Given that over 90% of the orca's diet is salmon, it is understandable why this is a primary issue. Additionally, there are high levels of contaminants inpacting the whales such as PCBs, PBDEs, dioxins, and furans. All of these contaminants are known carcinogens. PCBs impact reproduction, can cause birth defects (in humans as well), interrupt reproductive systems and more. One of the most relevant points on this particular issue is that these contaminants are accumulated in the whales.

Interpretation/Conclusions:

A serious point on bio-accumulated contaminants relates to the entire food chain. Considering killer whales are the top predator in the world's oceans, the high levels of these contaminants evidenced in killer whales (Ross, et al., 2000;) also evidence that the entire food chain is contaminated. This becomes a disturbing realization and one not easily accepted. Moreover, other marine mammals display contamination--some of the same toxins--are infected (Ross, et al.,2004) as well as diseases which are have been commonly associated with humans alone, such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (Bossart, etal. 2004). This evidences that the killer whale--whether resident, transient, or offshore--are threatened, as well as other marine mammals. Or, will we be able to transform our definition to include the community known as J-Clan, as one of the "fishing communities" impacted by human actions, regulations, and enforcement?

When considering all the elements which are impacting the Southern Resident population, as well as predator--prey relations and impacts on the eco-system, it becomes overwhelming. In light of the fact that humans are not prone to strong coping measures at times of crisis, the need for producing a wholistic approach becomes more crucial. Each and every one of us is encoded with what is known as the "fight-flight" response. Quite literally, such encoding is necessary for survival. Accordingly, we need to approach the major environmental issues we are faced with from a wholistic perspective, rather than allowing flight, or more devastating, fight, responses to issues which will not dematerialize.

In other words, humankind can no longer take what I characterize as the "Ostrich Syndrome" (Startin 1988) approach to resolution of resource wars (Klare 2001) or conflicts. In response, I prepared a proactive case analysis addressing the predator-prey relation issues for humans, killer whales, and salmon.

By bringing all the issues into one whole "circle," and examining each one from the macro to the micro and back to the macro again, we can determine which solutions are needed and prioritize those which will have the most immediate, far-reaching, and long term changes. Clearly, protecting indicator species, such as the killer whale, are essential. These indicator species are the means by which we can make relatively quick assessments of general oceanic conditions, along with climate change, dead zones across the globe, and interruption of the overall eco-systems.

Definitions and Meaning

One element to "management" of the resources impacting killer whales and the relevant eco-systems is how we define people, places, and things--or activities--in the overall management scheme. Inclusive in this is the definition of "manage" itself. Recent studies have brought this very issue to the forefront when dealing with how we define "fishing communities" (Clay et al. 2008; Sepez et al. 2008). Resource management in general requisites knowledge of the relevant government agencies involved from the Environmental Protection Agency to the National Marine Fisheries Agency et cetera; each of these agencies have a set body of regulations which are meant to facilitate management of the respective resources over which they have jurisdiction.

At the very heart of defining resource eco-systems and communities, including the Southern Residents, is meaning. This is also why one of the theoretical paradigms I am applying is symbolic interactionism. Herbert Blumer (1969) expanded the paradigm of symbolic interactionism rooted in the works of sociologists Mead, Cooley and Thomas (Ritzer 1996) through the addition of three premises: 1) ". . . human beings act toward things on the basis of the meanings that the things have for them;" 2) ". . . meaning of such things is derived from, or arises out of, the social interaction that one has with one's fellows;" and 3) ". . . meanings are handled in, and modified through, an interpretive process used by the person dealing with the things he encounters." (Blumer 1969:2). Blumer was part of what is known as the "Chicago School of Thought" and envelops many new theories, models, and applications in the social sciences during the early to mid-portion of the 20th century.

When we consider how we can ensure that the killer whales of the world, and particularly the Southern Residents, survive, we need also take into account the meanings which are important to the numerous stakeholders in this issue. Do we limit the definition of a "fishing community" to ". . . a community which is substantially dependent on or substantially engaged in the harvest or processing of fishery resources to meet social and economic needs, and includes fishing vessel owners, operators, and crew, and United States fish processors that are based in such community?" (Sepez et. al 2008; 15 U.S.C. Ch. 38(I)§1802 3[16]).

I posit that if we are able to accept that killer whales are sentient, cognitive beings who also possess culture, we can transform the meaning of community to include them, as well as other marine communities with which we are symbiotically interacting.