Feds Propose New Regulations Aimed at Protecting Orcas

Deborah Wang
07/29/2009

Puget Sound's endangered Orca population is again in the spotlight. On Tuesday, federal officials proposed new regulations requiring boats to give the whales a wider berth. But that could cause problems for the region's whale watching industry.

In Washington state, the law requires boats to stay at least 100 yards away. But the law is not always respected. Lynne Barre of the National Marine Fisheries Service says pleasure boats are the worst offenders.

Barre: "They are the ones who are most likely to do some of the worst things we see out on the water. Things like, racing over to the whales, driving through the middle of a group of whales, getting between the whales and the shore, where they are likely feeding, those types of activities."

In 2006 alone, Barre says, there were 1200 documented cases of boats encroaching on killer whales.

So federal officials now want to establish new federal regulations that would keep boats even further away. The proposed changes would prohibit vessels from approaching within 200 yards of any killer whales, that's the length of two football fields. Lynne Barre says recent research suggests the 100 yard limit just isn't enough.

Barre: "Some of reports have shown behavior changes of the whales, that they are doing these energetic surface active behaviors, things like breaching tail slapping, they forage less often when boats are close, so it is impacting their feeding behavior, which is definitely a concern for us."

In addition to the 200 yard limit, the proposed regulations would also establish a one–half mile no go zone west of San Juan Island. That's where Orcas tend to feed and rest. Fishing boats, cargo ships and research vessels would be exempt from the changes.

The biggest impact would be felt on the 30 or so companies in the state and in Canada that run whale watching tours. Shane Aggergaard is the president of the Pacific Whale Watch Association. He says he has yet to study the proposal, or the science behind it. But he says it will be tough to educate people about whales if vessels can't get closer than 200 yards.

Aggergaard: "Our number one priority is the protection of killer whales in our area, we love these animals we love to educate people regarding these animals so they can further protect them. It will be much more difficult to do that at 200 yards and at a half mile."

The National Marine Fisheries Service is now taking public comment on the proposed rules. They'll hold public hearings in Seattle and in Friday Harbor later this Fall.

I'm Deborah Wang, KUOW News.

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