Close encounter of the Orca kind

rogerbum · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 5:58 pm Post subject:

I didn't stay "stear clear" or even stay away - sometimes that isn't practical or possible, especially when the animal comes to you. Just was saying that intentionally putting one's boat in the direction of travel of a pod of Orca's may or may not be legal and may or may not be a good thing to do. Hey - I fish too and have had many a seal or sea lion approach the boat. I enjoy seeing them too. I also love to see Orcas and other whales.

But I don't see too many Orca's down here. I think they used to be as plentiful in this area as they are in Alaska. Same thing for sea otters, river otters, and other sea mammals. Now - not so much - probably due to human encroachment of all sorts - both on the water and off. Lets hope the same doesn't happen in Alaska.

AK Angler · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:19 pm Post subject:

I guess I shouldn't relay my experience last year regarding seeing 6-8 Dall Porpoises suddenly appearing within 10 feet of the boat while we were drifting for halibut. And I certainly should keep to myself the fact that as we were reeling in our gear (to protect the porpoises, no less), one of them either took my wife's bait or got snagged on it on the way up. It wouldn't be proper to admit that it very quickly stripped off about 150 yards before I realized what was happening and got the knife over to her to clip the line. Because I'm sure somebody somewhere 3000 miles away might think I had done something wrong.

I admit that marine mammals need protection from harassment. There are certainly people out there that would chase them around in order to get a good picture. There are also people that would plow right through a pod at high speed just so they're not 30 seconds late to the fishing grounds. Those types of people are on the water as much as they are on the road, in the woods, or in the city.

I wasn't there, but as the story was told, I don't think that Dan either intentionally or inadvertantly harassed the Orcas. I will concede that it is possible that without his presence there that day, they may not have acted in this particular manner. In fact, they probably did change their behavior because of the situation, just as any animal would. It is my contention, however, that the Orcas aren't the ones being harassed here.

I know. Maybe in order to eliminate the "potential to disturb", the best solution would be to keep all the boats out of the water altogether. I'll get in line to haul out right after all the commercial boats. And after the Native hunters. And after KenG. And maybe after Roger.

Dan- I still love the pics, I'm glad you posted 'em. If I ever get the opportunity to take some as spactacular as those are, I won't hesitate to post 'em here too.

rogerbum · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:53 pm Post subject:

SeaSpray · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:58 pm Post subject:

I think it is good to have this discussion. I have seen many posts where people say they are new to boating and they may not be aware that these rules exist. We should also mention that the fines for the marine mammal protection act start at something like $5000. That would make a large dent in my boat fund.

It is probably not too likely that anyone would get fined in less populated areas but where I kayak in San Francisco bay and particularly Monterey bay there are more people and more enforcers.

Personally I am more concerned with my safety than the critters. Last year near Morrow Bay some people where fishing in a 25 to 30ft boat when a Gray breach and landed on the boat. One person was killed. I don't think the people even knew the whale was close or the whale knew the boat was there. Never heard of Orcas doing anything like this but I would not want to be too close.

Steve

B~C · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:41 pm Post subject:

way cool pics, what kind of camera do you have? Our digital camera has such a delay it's near impossible to get any kind of action shot.

This whole raging debate boils down to one thing and one thing only.....prop size

dogon dory · Last edited by dogon dory on Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:15 pm; edited 1 time in total

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dogon dory · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 1:05 am Post subject:

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Zelpha · Guest

Perhaps those folks attacked by sharks on the US Gulf Coast, by leaving the water, should be arrested for interrupting the feeding of a marine animal. Some silly posts, great pictures. Best, Zelpha

gljjr · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 1:23 pm Post subject:

Dan,

All I can say is that I am truly envious! Those pictures are awsome. Did you use the Canon 20D for these? I need to replace my old Sigma 400 as it causes an error to occur on my Digital Rebel. Sad

dogon dory · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 4:57 pm Post subject:

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gljjr · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 6:45 pm Post subject:

Dan,

The reason I have the Canon Digital Rebel is very similar to yours. I have 2 Canon Elans and 5 lenses so it just made sense to get the Rebel when the price point dropped low enough that owning it outweighed the expense! Of course the fact that my wife bought it for me for Christmas helped too!

Too often I have "missed pictures" simply because I left it in the bag when I should have been holding it!

Quite simply those are awsome shots that you will treasure always.

Bess-C · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 8:11 pm Post subject:

I've been trying to avoid the temptation of throwing another log on this fire, but since it keeps coming up I just can't resist.

I too enjoy seeing whales, especially orcas. I've spent a week in Johnstone Strait in B.C. kayaking among them. This was with a kayaking touring company that has been in business for 20 years. They focus their business around seeing and interacting with orcas. We didn't chase them or approach any closer than 100 yards to them. However we did interdict them by putting ourselves in their area and drifting with the current. One morning we spent all morning with combined pods consisting of over 50 whales. I should say they spent all morning with us. They approached our boats and breached, spyhopped and dove under the kayaks. When the big whale watching boats heard they were there and arrived on the scene the whales obviously recognized them. I saw one big male charge up to the boat and put on a show, breaching over and over right next to it to the cheers of the paying customers.

So, were the whales harassed? I don't think so. Was their behavior changed by the presence of humans. Of course it was. They are very intelligent animals with a very complex matriarchal social system.

Last weekend we went to the west side of San Juan Island with several other boats from Blakely to see if we could find the whales. It was pretty easy to find them. All you had to do was to find the big collection of whale watching boats and "whale protection volunteers" in their zodiacs. That area is a circus. The whale watching boats spend their time jumping ahead of where the whales are headed. The "whale protection volunteers" did what those kind of folks like to do in their off time, be officious and irritating. I was keeping my boat way back behind the whale watching boats probably a mile away from the pods working along the shoreline. As we were drifting along with the motor shut down a big male came by right in front of the boat. One of the "volunteers" came screaming up in his zodiac and started hollering "get back, get back, there's a whale coming through". It makes no sense to start your motor in that situation and move, but I followed instructions. In this situation I think the whales are being harassed. But are they being harassed by the private boats that occasionally want to see a whale? Or are they being harassed and loved to death by the professional whale watchers and the "whale protection volunteers? I probably won't follow the pack to see the whales again on a Saturday afternoon. Kind of made me feel like the folks that follow Brad Pitt around with a camera.
Lyle

gljjr · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 8:55 pm Post subject:

Excellent post Lyle! I think the one doing the most harrassment in that picture was the volunteers in the Zodiak! Since you were drifting you were much less of a problem than the Zodiak making erratic movements that the whales can't figure out!

As you stated, these whales are very intelligent. I personally feel they like to watch us as much as we like to watch them (as indicated by the story you told and the pictures Dan took of the spy hopping whale checking out their boat). So the boater who shuts down and lets the whales interact on their terms is the correct one. The one who goes around and forces the issue is the one who needs to change their ways. Even if that person is trying to tell you to leave because the whale is too close! Lets face it. If the whales didn't like it they would just find a way to get away from it!

hoagey · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:07 pm Post subject:

When we boat around the west side of San Juan Island, at all times we make sure to stay at least 1/2 mile from the shore. That 1/2 mile from shore is the Orcas favorite eating grounds. That is why it is a voluntary no motor boat zone. Please see page 5 here....

Link fixed by Da Nag

dogon dory · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:21 pm Post subject:

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