Friday, October 2, 2026
The Olympia City Council endorsed a proclamation designating 2026 as “Budd Inlet Six – 50th Anniversary Year,” marking 50 years since a dramatic confrontation in local waters helped end the capture of live orcas in Washington.
The proclamation, adopted during the city council meeting on Tuesday, March 3, also proclaimed March 7 as Budd Inlet Six Commemoration Day.
The recognition commemorates events that began on March 7, 1976, when six Bigg’s (transient) killer whales were driven into Budd Inlet near Olympia and captured in public view off the Athens Beach area.
Karen Ellieck witnessed the scene with her then-husband, Ralph Munro, while sailing on a warm spring day.
“Looking toward Budd Inlet, we saw a pod of orcas being chased by two large boats and a seaplane,” Ellieck recalled. “We knew it was the SeaWorld capture crew, which had already taken over 60 of our orcas and sold them to marine parks in the U.S. and overseas.”
“Our captain, Bill Oliver, tried to get his boat between the orcas and the capture boats, but the men said they had permits. The orcas tried to escape, but the seaplane taxied back and forth, and the men threw small explosives into the water," Ellieck said.
"They drove the terrified animals into the shallow bay and threw nets around them. … We watched as the men separated the young orcas from their family, prodding them with long poles. The orca's cries were heartbreaking. The animals outside the nets did not leave, but kept circling around and calling to their captive relatives.”
She and other people tried to intervene, but they could not stop the men. She and Munro contacted the press the following day. Media coverage and public protests followed.
Edward B. Mackie, a former chief deputy attorney general for Washington, described the legal response at the meeting.
He said state attorneys challenged SeaWorld’s permits, as assistant attorneys general identified a key provision requiring whales be allowed to swim naturally and not be chased.
A federal lawsuit and a temporary restraining order stopped further captures, and mounting public and legal pressure led SeaWorld to agree not to capture orcas in Washington waters, as well as to release the Budd Inlet captives.
Then-U.S. Sen. Warren Magnuson advanced a federal amendment designating Puget Sound as a sanctuary for orcas, prohibiting new capture permits. Federal protections have remained in place since 1976.
“Public attention to the Budd Inlet Six, together with scientific input and civic engagement, contributed to legal and political actions that resulted in the release of the captured whales and the cessation of live orca capture in Washington State waters,” the proclamation states.
The city also recognized Washington state leaders at that time, including Governor Dan Evans, Attorney General Slade Gorton, and Gov. Evans’ aide Munro, who played key roles in addressing the crisis.
“City of Olympia acknowledges its place in this chapter of regional environmental history and recognizes the value of public awareness, education, and stewardship of shared natural resources,” the proclamation states.
The proclamation calls on residents, schools and community organizations to observe the anniversary through educational and reflective activities throughout the year.
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Boatyarddog
Stealing Babies from their Mothers, just like OLE Kristy Noem.
May those involved Perish without respect.
Thursday, March 5 Report this
wildnature
I don't know if I would have lived through witnessing such a cruel and horrific scene. Those who did must have trauma syndrome. So glad we had elected officials who actually did something about it. Those who did the capture will have one awful life review when their time is up on this beautiful world.
Friday, March 6 Report this
SecondOtter
And the ways the kidnapped orcas were treated after stolen from the sea is even more horrific. Orcas (and other cetaceans and marine mammals) cannot drink seawater. They're mammals, they need fresh water, which they get from their prey. Oceanic fish excrete salt in order to keep fresh water in their systems.
In captivity, they're fed fresh water fish as it's cheaper and easier to get when the ''aquarium' is thousand miles from the ocean. Fresh water fish don't don't need to be water filled and so the orcas (and other captive marine mammals) have to be watered, from a hose.
THey're kept in fresh water tanks because, again, salt water is expensive to keep and maintain. Pretty much the orcas in captivity are swimming in the water they excrete in. Yes, but......filters can only do so much.
THese are mammals evolved to live in an ocean, not a tank. THey begin to do what is dubbed 'stereotypical behaviour" meaning, in the orca's case, swimming in tiny circles all day..when they're not performing stupid tricks.
It's the same thing as when you see a lion pacing back and forth...that mindless motion because they're bored out of their minds cooped up in a tiny paddock or tank.
Then you have the 'training;. Years ago I was behind the 'aquarium' in Santa Cruz, CA. The facility was not open to the public that time of day, and I heard them 'training' the dolphins. I don't know if they still have dolphins, it's been a long time.
However, I heard training going on. I heard male voices, and the dolphin's call...I can't describe it, but we've allheard it. I heard a man shout something, then a whistle blew. The men's voices sounded disapproving. THey b lew the whistle again, more shouting, then "ZAAAAAP". It sounded like an electronic shock, the dolphin literally squealed at the shock. THen the whistles blew again, and one of the men shouted "Taht's better."
No I didn't see it. But I am convinced the men were shocking the dolphin when it didn't obey the whistle.
I could go on but I won't.
Friday, March 6 Report this
RondaLarsonKramer
@SecondOtter, I just looked it up and, yes, dolphins at SeaWorld and some other marine parks were historically trained using electric shock devices called aversive stimulators. It happened in the 1960s through 1980s. What a horrible thing to do. Like whipping people during slavery days.
Monday, March 9 Report this