Opinion | Open letter to the boater chasing orcas off San Juan Island
Aug 25 2011 in Opinion by Deborah Bach
Keep your distance: boaters are required to stay 200 yards away from the region's killer whales.
To the person in the white powerboat that was chasing orcas last Saturday off San Juan Island:
You may not realize that under new regulations which took effect in May, all boats are required to stay twice as far away from Puget Sound’s killer whale population as previously required. That’s 200 yards instead of the previous 100. Boats must also stay 400 yards out of the path of any oncoming whales.
I assume you weren’t aware of the rules. That’s the only plausible explanation I can come up with for why you gunned your engine and chased after several of the orcas, approaching them at close range while a dozen or so other boats, including the one I was on, watched from a respectful distance.
At that point, you effectively turned what had been a majestic treat into a distressing scene of harassment. Several people on our boat wondered if your crew might have been feeding the orcas to keep them hanging around for your entertainment. They also wondered, as did I, what the hell you could possibly have been thinking.
Others must have wondered too — as we watched, a boat from the Soundwatch Boater Education Program, run by The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, approached your boat. We were told that at least two people had called in to the organization to report what your boat was doing. I hope whatever they said to you made an impression.
A little background for you: In an effort to protect the region’s Southern Resident killer whales (which were declared endangered in 2005), the National Marine Fisheries Service proposed last year to establish a “no-go” zone on the west side of San Juan Islan, where you saw those orcas.
If the regulation had been implemented, 6.2 square miles of water in that area would have been closed off to boats from May through September, when whales are present. In other words, neither you nor I would have been able to enjoy that spectacular show the orcas put on last weekend.
But in the face of widespread opposition, Fisheries backed away from the proposal and instead implemented the current regulations. They were needed, Fisheries said, because some boaters were ignoring the previous 100-yard limit. The limit was just a guideline, but has now been replaced by a law punishable by fines of up to $20,000.
Proponents of the new regulations say they’re needed to protect orcas from boat noise that can reduce their ability to find food and communicate with each other. Others argue that a shortage of food, not boat noise, is to blame for the orcas’ threatened state.
I’m not a scientist, so I can’t tell you where the truth lies. Regardless, it seems like a no-brainer to understand that chasing orcas in your boat in close proximity is a bad idea at best and harmful at worst. Imagine somone busting into your house and chasing you around — not the best analogy, perhaps, but you get my drift. Whether it’s against the law or not, shouldn’t you know better?
The last time I talked with someone at Fisheries, he said the department was going to reconsider the proposed no-zone in a year or two and may still implement it. In the meantime, it plans to focus on education over enforcement in the hope that boaters would get informed and play by the rules.
So my request to you is this: Have a little respect for the environment you’re living in. Orcas are wild animals, not party entertainment.
If the no-go zone ultimately goes into effect, you will shoulder a little of the blame, however small. So do the right thing and don’t ruin it for everyone else, okay?
Tim R Jones said on September 5, 2011
Having lived in the San Juans now for nearly 37 years and having spent many many hours on the water here in the function of marine towing skipper and additionally seeing the Orcas on many occasions…..my perception is that the Orca whales are pretty much oblivious to small boat traffic. The whales do seem to hang around sport fisherman and on occasion seem to enjoy performing for the whale watch boats.
As one whale watch skipper said to me many years ago, “you couldn’t hit a whale if you tried.” The whales sense of direction and space is very keen and they know exactly where you are and which way you are headed. My own policy when around the whales when I had a boat in tow, was ‘maintain my course and speed’, same as the rules of the road. That way the whales knew where I was and where I was headed.
Too many people consider the Orca to be dumber than fence posts. “Careful, you might run over a whale”. “Yeah, right!”
The whales are savvy and are in my opinion not in the least bit harassed by small boats. Anyone who thinks so should have been out on the West side of San Juan at the peak of commercial fishing here when there were hundreds of purse seiners and gill netters right up the rock shores. Noise and boats and nets in every direction as far as you could see.
The whales are so smart, I’m sure they made use of all that commotion and fencing off of those waters with nets to eat more than their share of the salmon.
My perception of a non-issue.
Mike Oswald said on August 26, 2011
Sadly, there are many who just don’t give a damn what the regulations are, it’s all about what they want.
Then there are those times where the creatures are overly friendly. I had a friend that was fishing one afternoon, just north of Campbell River on the April Point side in an ancient 9 foot wood skiff. A very large pod of killer whales came south bound and right up to him. Seeing the lapstrake round bottom of the skiff they decided he was their new very best friend. Poor Steve sat wide eyed and shaking in the fragile shell, expecting to be sunk any moment, while the whales rolled and dove about him often nudging the little skiff south for Cape Mudge. Luckily for Steve the Killer whales tired of their plaything and moved into the Strait of Georgia.
Steve started his little outboard and came into Gowland Harbor where our boats were anchored and proceeded to drink me out of my supply of Scotch. He noted that all the Seals had moved out of the water and were on the rocks or beach, wide eyed and shaking, nodding his head he admitted so was he.
Stephen said on August 25, 2011
So, a couple of years ago we were northing under sail along the west coast of San Juan Island when we saw orcas behind us, slowing gaining. We maintained our course and speed and it wasn’t long before we were surrounded by them. A lot of them, probably multiple pods. Any way we would turn would take us in the path of the crowd.
We were treated to a spectacular display, periscoping, breaching, you name it. I suppose I should have dropped my sails and wallowed there, allowing the whales to pass, but we were ghosting along on a weak flood and light quartering winds, wing on wing. We had no sonar or other electronics on and we were really causing no disturbance. The whales seemed to intentionally hang with us for nearly two hours, mirroring our progress until we turned right at Spieden Pass and they carried on towards Turn Point. Not only did they appear undisturbed, I think they were entertained by us. They were certainly comfortable enough that one brought her calf around to check us out.
I could be wrong, but I think it was OK to sail along with the whales. Perhaps I was being anthropomorphic when I attributed the observed behaviors to play and interest, when it could really have been agitation. I expect a scientist will set me straight on that if so. But if I am right, it’s too bad yahoos like the one in this article have spoiled it for those of us who would like to think we can interact in a positive way with the sensitive elements of nature, soaking up her beauty while causing no harm.
I wonder what others think?
Susan said on August 30, 2011
I understand what you’re saying and I think it’s okay to continue your course if the whales approach you from behind and surround you.
The situation Bach was referring to was completely different. I was on the same boat as Bach and witnessed the event. The boaters raced through the water like madmen, following the whales until they passed them up – more than once. They then looped around in front of the whales, cutting off their path.
There were many boats in the water that day, watching the whales. This one motorboat was the only one causing a scene and setting up chase. It upset everyone on board and did, indeed, change an exciting day of whale watching into a breath holder – wondering if this crazy was going to make one wrong turn and ram one of those whales.
Dave Calhoun said on August 25, 2011
Hopefully someone got pictures and/or a boat name or number. That’s inexcusable and they need to be educated…a $20k fine would help that education quickly!
Deborah Bach said on August 25, 2011
A boat from the Soundwatch Boater Education Program did approach him and talk to him. We were told that when that happens, the boat’s information goes on a watch list.