MADISON CHURCHILL

Madison Churchill is a cold-water free diver, conservationist, and loves nothing better than drawing or writing about her favourite thing: the underwater world. Teaming up with talented photographer Hannah Gabrielson, in a new 2-part series, she talks about their work at PNW Protectors: an organisation fighting to save the last remaining Southern Resident orcas in the Salish Sea. Grab a cuppa and dive right in!

We are the eyes beneath the sea, and the voices above it. 

We dive beneath the surface to explore orca territory, and we advocate for them above land. We are a group of multi-media artists with a collective goal to save our endangered orcas. We are PNW Protectors.

The Southern Resident orcas are a charismatic and iconic species of the Pacific Northwest. They can often be found cruising through the San Juan Islands, or off the coast of Washington, Oregon, or B.C. They have been found venturing as far as California or Alaska, but we like to think they call Washington home. Historically this has been their range, but in recent years they’ve had to travel further and further to find food. 

Unlike the mammal-eating transient populations, these residents only eat fish. Their primary food source is the protein-rich Chinook salmon, a keystone species of Washington state. Unfortunately, we are noticing more and more that the salmon runs are turning up dry with each passing year. 

As avid orca-lovers and cold-water free divers, PNW Protectors set out with a mission to figure out why these whales were struggling to have calves, and why their numbers were declining so rapidly. There are just 73 Southern Residents left, split into three family groups, or “pods.” Experts anticipate that a drop to 70 would set the species on the path to extinction. 

Our organisation has taken an interesting approach to conservation, being that we are all artists and divers. We can express information in a unique way, using a combination of photography, film, painting, and writing. We find creative ways to show our underwater experiences to scientists, policymakers, and the public. To truly manage an ecosystem, it needs to be approached from all angles and viewed through a holistic lens. Here in Washington, where the water is icy cold year-round, the perspective that matters most often gets missed. 

In recent years, we have deduced that the number one cause for the orca’s population decline is a lack of salmon. The rationale behind this is simple. The fish-eating resident orcas share territory and feeding grounds with the mammal-eating transients. The two species experience the same volume of noise and water pollution, and share all other external factors in their environment. The only difference is their diet. The decline in salmon population directly correlates with the loss of the residents. 

This is caused by a combination of dams, overfishing, and net-pen salmon farms. Our main campaign right now is to breach the “Lower 4 Snake River Dams.” These dams kill an estimate of 8 million migrating salmon per year, about 50%. The orcas depend on these fish for survival, and the dams are creating a sizeable rift in the ecosystem. We advocate for daily actions our community members can take to help, such as signing petitions and contacting local legislature. 

These orcas are a highly intelligent and social species. They bring balance to their habitat, and strike awe in those lucky enough to witness them. They have lived in these cold, murky waters for centuries, holding close cultural significance to tribal communities. We will continue to fight for them and stand beside our ocean community.

We are the eyes beneath the sea, and the voices above it.   

Stay tuned for part 2 - COMING SOON

If you’ve enjoyed this article from Madison Churchill, follow her here @chadisonmurchill. Check out PNW protectors website and follow them here @pnwprotectors.

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Blue Missions showcases the work of marine organisations dedicated to protecting our oceans