Editor,

Southern Resident Orcas are intelligent, social, biologically important as apex predators … and critically endangered. Only some 75 remain and recent research published in the journal Nature highlighted that human-produced noise is a key to the decline of the orcas — the noise from boats interferes with their ability to hunt, reproduce and survive. The same research foresees extinction for the southern resident orcas.

I’m thrilled that Janet St. Clair, running to be our state senator, says “I’m a fierce protector of salmon and our iconic orca population.” The southern resident orcas primarily eat salmon, hence the importance of the connection.

Incumbent Senator Ron Muzzall, on the other hand, voted against ESSB 5371 in 2023. That bill, which became law, increased orca protections by requiring boats to stay 1000 yards away from orcas. The bill made other changes and improvements to prior regulations and carved out reasonable exceptions. The bill, after amendments in both the Senate and House, and a partial veto by Gov. Inslee for practical reasons, was widely seen as a step in the right direction. It passed the House 95-2, meaning an overwhelming majority of House Republicans joined with Democrats. But in the concurrence vote in the Senate, after the House amended the bill, Sen. Muzzall voted against the bill.

The senator’s websites, and news reports, don’t cite specific objections to the provisions of the bill. Did he oppose the bill simply because of ideological views about government regulation? Even when the regulations are widely supported (including in the whale-watching industry) are based on scientific evidence and are for the benefit of vulnerable, widely loved creatures that can’t speak for themselves?

I’ll be voting for Janet St. Clair in November!

Warren Weissman

Camano Island