No fine yet for closing on Puget Sound orcas
SEATTLE (AP) - A boater who was caught by the Coast Guard too close to Puget Sound killer whales on Wednesday won't be penalized, but next summer violators could be fined thousands of dollars.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is working with the Coast Guard and the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department to educate boaters about a 2011 requirement to stay at least 200 yards away from orcas, spokesman Brian Gorman said. Previously it was just a guideline.
"Our intention is to depend on education and warning rather than coming on like gangbusters," Gorman said.
They'll make a decision before next summer's boating season on issuing fines, Gorman said. Civil penalties under the Marine Mammal Protection Act could reach $11,000, and fines under the Endangered Species Act could be as high as $32,500, Gorman said.
On Wednesday a Coast Guard cutter from Port Angeles witnessed a 25-foot pleasure boat remaining within 200 yards of whales near Orcas Island. The boaters were told they were too close.
Most violators are kayakers or pleasure boaters. Organized whale watching boats are aware of the rules and realize violating them would be bad for business, Gorman said.
Encroaching boats can cause stress or prevent orcas from feeding.
The Puget Sound orcas, known as the southern resident population, were declared an endangered species in 2005. Counting a calf spotted in May, there are 88 whales in three pods called J, K and L.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is working with the Coast Guard and the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department to educate boaters about a 2011 requirement to stay at least 200 yards away from orcas, spokesman Brian Gorman said. Previously it was just a guideline.
"Our intention is to depend on education and warning rather than coming on like gangbusters," Gorman said.
They'll make a decision before next summer's boating season on issuing fines, Gorman said. Civil penalties under the Marine Mammal Protection Act could reach $11,000, and fines under the Endangered Species Act could be as high as $32,500, Gorman said.
On Wednesday a Coast Guard cutter from Port Angeles witnessed a 25-foot pleasure boat remaining within 200 yards of whales near Orcas Island. The boaters were told they were too close.
Most violators are kayakers or pleasure boaters. Organized whale watching boats are aware of the rules and realize violating them would be bad for business, Gorman said.
Encroaching boats can cause stress or prevent orcas from feeding.
The Puget Sound orcas, known as the southern resident population, were declared an endangered species in 2005. Counting a calf spotted in May, there are 88 whales in three pods called J, K and L.
While fishing outside of Deception Pass many ago years an all black whale (Minke?) surfaced next
to our boat. We had no warning that it was in the area. Would a vessel's owners be subject to fines
under the above conditions? It was not in a pod and appeared to be traveling solo. We only saw
its back and it had a smaller dorsal fin than most Orcas have. It may have had other colors on its body,
but they were not observable.
I'm having a hard time believing that a kayaker getting too close is going to stress out an orca. Â Maybe after they realize that the kayak isn't lunch. Â And, as others have posted...there are way too many variables. Â Not the most well thought out law.
Go ahead and do the 'gangbuster' thing! How many years do we need to 'educate' the idiots out there to leave these animals alone and not invade their space? What part about 'respecting nature' do they not understand? Why is it necessary for humans to try and overpower EVERYTHING in existence? Why can't the assholes of the world lead their own lives and move back so other creatures and people can do the same? YEA! Go ahead and SHOT PEOPLE FOR VIOLATING REGULATIONS!!!!!
What worries me is that NOAA has bought a bunch of firearms and ammunition. Do they plan on shooting people for violating regulations?Â
Suppose a pod comes up from behind the vessel and no one notices until it's too late. It seems that this "law" wasn't well thought out.Â
I've ridden a lot of ferries in my time. More than most and less than many. I've seen a ferry shut down when whales are sighted on more than one occasion.
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If a fully loaded ferry can avoid the rules, ANYONE can.
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That said, whales are curious creatures. How do you stop them from checking you out?
They have sonar that finds you LONG before you are aware of them. You see them and stop, and they come to you.
How do you avoid them? Motor up and run?
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Just curious.
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I'd just blast them out of the water with one of those fire boat gizmos. Any boater who isn't a complete selfish idiot knows to stay away from the Orcas. Those people shouldn't be allowed to own a boat. Â They're the same ones who blast through a 5 mph zone like they own the world.