Environmentalists declared a victory yesterday after learning that the federal government had issued an order setting out the boundaries of critical habitat required for the recovery of two killer whale populations considered at risk in B.C.

"It is precedent setting ... the first time the federal government under the Species at Risk Act has issued an order to protect habitat," said Gwen Barlee of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee.

The order this week by Environment Minister Jim Prentice and Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea sets out the legal boundaries for critical habitat in B.C. of endangered southern resident killer whales and threatened northern resident killer whales.

The boundaries for endangered residents include the area of Canadian water from Juan de Fuca Strait through the southern Strait of Georgia and Gulf Islands to the mouth of the Fraser River.

The federal action follows a lawsuit launched last year by Ecojustice on behalf of nine environmental organizations who argued Ottawa had failed to provide much-needed legal protection for killer whale critical habitat.
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