VANCOUVER — The federal government has declined to issue an emergency order under the Species at Risk Act that would further protect the endangered killer whales off British Columbia's coast.
An order-in-council issued Thursday says the government has already taken several measures to ensure the recovery of the southern resident killer whales.
Five conservation groups, represented by the environmental law group Ecojustice, had teamed up to launch legal action aimed at protecting the endangered whales in September.
In a statement, the groups say they are "deeply disappointed" by cabinet's rejection of what they believe is the best tool to help the recovery of the whales.
The group says the designation would have allowed the government to cut through red tape and bring in wide-ranging protections for species at risk.
They say that with only 74 animals remaining, southern resident killer whales are in crisis.
Earlier this week, Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced several measures to protect the whales including creation of new ocean sanctuaries and enhancing their main source of food, the chinook.
