Commercial, recreational boaters asked to take pledge to protect orcas

WASHINGTON — A coalition of people that is working to protect this region’s orcas is asking commercial and recreational boaters to take a pledge to protect orcas.

This comes as new videos surfaced showing boaters getting dangerously close to the endangered marine mammals.

In the last week, Salish Wildlife Watch posted at least two videos of boaters getting too close to orcas.

“Most people that care about the local wildlife, orcas included, don’t want to see this happening anymore. I’ve talked to hundreds that are tired of seeing this,” said Amy Bliss-Miller with Salish Wildlife Watch.

Earlier this summer, Bliss-Miller took photos of boaters that were speeding up to the orcas, who appeared to dive to avoid the vessels. She admits if enforcement is difficult then outing the boaters is the next best thing.

“If this is how we can bring a stop to it, then this is how we are going to do it,” Bliss-Miller said.

Alisa Lemire Brooks with the Orca Network said this summer, circumstances have combined to produce more close encounters with orcas.

“During the pandemic, boat sales have gone up considerably this summer. It’s kind of a perfect storm,” said Lemire Brooks, “The hot sunny days and boat sales being up, we heard as much as 33% in July and August, or June and July, I think it was. So that’s a lot of people going out, buying boats that maybe don’t know there are laws and regulations around marine mammals.”

Boats are supposed to stay 400 yards behind or in front of orcas and 300 yards from either side, according to federal regulations.

Lemire-Brooks said good behavior around orcas is actually quite simple. “If you see a whale of any type, slow to under 7 knots. If a whale should happen come up around you, stay idle until it’s safe to continue on.”

This week a coalition of environmental experts submitted a letter to all U.S. whale watching operators asked them to suspend viewing and take a pledge to not bother southern resident orcas. It is also recommended by the Washington State Orca Taskforce formed by the governor.

Bliss-Miller said recreational boaters should also take the pledge or they could end up on Facebook for the world to see.

“I really would challenge people to sign the pledge and do what’s right and give the southern residents and all the orcas space,” Bliss-Miller said.

Cox Media Group