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Two new areas off Vancouver Island have been designated by the federal government as protected for critical habitat for resident killer whales.

Fisheries and Oceans Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says the decision means key foraging locations for the endangered whales are protected from destruction.

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The government is increasing the amount of protected habitat from about 6,400 square kilometres to roughly 10,700 square kilometres.

Photo by Elaine Thompson / AP

The new protected area is intended to help recovery efforts for northern and southern resident killer whales, and covers an area off southwestern Vancouver Island.

The number of southern resident killer whales is down to 74 as the orcas face several threats, including a lack of prey, particularly chinook salmon, noise and physical strikes from ships, and contaminants in the water.

The state of Washington recently announced $1.1 billion US in spending and a partial whale-watching ban in an attempt to help the population’s recovery.