[stevenpet]

I never grow tired of watching whales off the coast of California’s Monterey Bay and off the coast of Maui. Of course, there are always a lot of tourists out watching them and I’ve always wondered how often the boats collided with the whales. I have a friend who’s contributed so much money to the Monterey Bay Aquarium that he practically has his own key. One time on a private tour I asked the scientists how often boat/whale collisions occur and if it’s a serious problem or not. They said that actual collisions are surprisingly rare and they believe that the whales are incredibly aware of the people in their environment. They also said that when collision do occur it’s almost always because the boats are going far too fast while moving through the pod or the boat is trying to keep up with a whale or trying to get too close—and then they end up hitting it.

Both of these reasons show an incredible disrespect for the whales. Unless the collision above occurred well away from the pods, where no other whales were sighted, then I would have to agree with OutMyWindow on this one.

Originally Posted by OutMyWindow

This guy obviously learned nothing in his 30 years of boating and has little respect for his environment.
A sensitive whale breeding area that he’s aware of, and they blast through at 22 knots.
Personally, I would hope his boat gets confiscated and he gets a big fat fine.

[PropBet]

Sidebar:
Echoing that theme, I recall one dive in the Carrib. just off Saba, where you will often encounter shark and barracuda. A friend was on board with us who was a relatively new diver and asked 'what do we do if we see sharks?'
"we continue or dive of course, respect their space, and go on about our business"

85 feet below, I get a tap on the shoulder and my buddy, eyeballs as big as serving plates, giving me the "shark" signal. I return the "OK" signal to him and we go on about our way, observing the sharks which were down around 120 / 130 feet circling around the bottom of a lava tube and continuing on our dive.

Once we got back on the boat, the conversation continues: "Man, that was awesome, but sharks are dangerous!" he says with spirit.

No, I reply. The most dangerous thing in the ocean is the human. We are guests in someone's house.

Back OT, I'd hate to think that the captain of the boat was anywhere near cruise speed with whales anywhere near the boat. Obviously damage like that doesn't happen while strolling along without a wake, cautiously making your way through the water where whales are spotted or known to be.
Should they had not been extremely cautious of the whales and were clipping along at cruise, this is clearly a mark of gross negligence and irresponsibility.

I wasn't there, I only have the information from this thread so I won't jump to an assumption, however I hope I'm wrong in my first thought.

[Capt J]

Originally Posted by OutMyWindow

"We had seen Whales everywhere all morning. Many breaching. One had jumped two days prior and hit a boat upon falling back into the water. We had just gotten the boat to 22 knots.
I have seen several boats that have hit Whales in the past. Usually, you ride up on the back much as a boat going up on a sandbar, roll down the side and do strut, prop and rudder damage. "


This guy obviously learned nothing in his 30 years of boating and has little respect for his environment.
A sensitive whale breeding area that he’s aware of, and they blast through at 22 knots.
Personally, I would hope his boat gets confiscated and he gets a big fat fine.

This is totally out of line, were you there? How do you know what their situation was or why they were moving from that spot in the first place. How do you know it was a whale breeding area? Maybe the whales were concentrated in a spot a mile or two away off to the side and this was a stray whale. They were obviously moving at 22 knots and not there normal 35 knot cruise. So they obviously slowed down to be prudent.

In that book where the guy and his wife were lost at sea for 58 days (I forgot the name and it was sometime around 58 days that they floated around in a liferaft in the Pacific), a whale kept hitting their sailboat while they were at sail doing 5 knots several times until it totally breeched the hull. WHales do things like this sometimes. Who knows why it happened. I'm sure the Whale knew the boat was there when it came up.

[Silver Lining]

I think it is unfair to attack the captain without better knowing the situation. I have been out in the gulf stream a number of times and have seen whales off at a distance playing. They seem sufficiently far off to maintain a reasonable, safe planing speed but have always felt their presence and the potential danger of hitting a random whale. As a result when doing a crossing or out in the open ocean I always keep inflattable open ocean life jackets and tethers close at hand.

But the point I really want to make is that after having worked with formula race car laminants for years, cored laminants are in no way comparable to solid laminants, assuming both are done correctly. Yes cored laminiants offer superior stiffness and rigidity, but only for as long as the laminant fully maintains its bond integrity. I have seen so many properly vacuum bagged laminants slowly fail from repeated pounding and stress cycles, that I simply wont own a cored hull. The only coring I have ever seen done properly is vacuum bagged and OVEN baked chasis and suspension components use in F1 or similar chassis. For these to be succesful, solid inserts are used at all heavily loaded or attachment points. I have just seen so many vacuum bagged components delaminate when subjected to endless hours of stress cycles.

[K1W1]

Hi,

Here is the story of a family that were sunk by KillerWhales and did 38 days adrift in the Pacific.

http://www.survivethesavagesea.com/SSS.html

CaptJ- Is this the book you were writing about? http://www.wbutler.com/daysadrift.html

[OutMyWindow]

Originally Posted by J

They were obviously moving at 22 knots and not there normal 35 knot cruise. So they obviously slowed down to be prudent.

I'm sure the Whale knew the boat was there when it came up.

J, I don’t expect you to know these things, as it’s mostly a by-product of a flawed education system.
________________________________
______________________

Under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), it is illegal to "harass, hunt, capture or kill" any marine mammal. Humpback whales are an endangered species protected under the Endangered Species Act as well. "The federal regulations against whale harassment are clear and their abuses should not be tolerated," says Peter Borrelli, executive director at PCCS. "Recreational boaters have a responsibility to know these rules," Borrelli added.
Motoring at fast speeds around whales and coming way too close to these cetaceans comprise the bulk of the reports. PCCS Marine Educators have documented cases of whale harassment particularly during times when humpback whales 'bubble feed,' or emit bubbles to concentrate prey. Humpbacks rise to the surface feeding with their mouths open wide and are vulnerable to vessels and their propellers. Bubble feeding is an engaging behaviour, and a favourite sighting on commercial whale watches, but getting too close to feeding humpbacks, which can grow to 40 tons, endangers not only the mammals but humans as well.
Mariners should report whale harassment incidents to NOAA's Enforcement Hotline: 800.853.1964. Fines and civil penalties of up to $10,000, or criminal penalties up to $20,000, may result in convictions under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, including imprisonment and the seizure of a vessel. Violating the Endangered Species Act could result in fines or penalties up to $25,000, or criminal penalties up to $50,000, plus imprisonment and the seizure of the recreational boat.
"Any approach that alters the natural behaviour of the animals may be classified as harassment," says Todd Dubois, a deputy special agent in charge for the Northeast enforcement division of NOAA Fisheries Service. "Boaters should maintain a safe distance from the whales and view the animals with caution and respect," he added.

[K1W1]

Hi,

Does any of the legislation posted above actually apply to things that happen outside the US or on the high seas?

[Capt J]

Originally Posted by K1W1

Hi,

Here is the story of a family that were sunk by KillerWhales and did 38 days adrift in the Pacific.

http://www.survivethesavagesea.com/SSS.html

CaptJ- Is this the book you were writing about? http://www.wbutler.com/daysadrift.html

Yes, the second link is the book that I was talking about. It's a pretty good book.

[Marmot]

"Does any of the legislation posted above actually apply to things that happen outside the US or on the high seas?"

It applies to the 200 mile US Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the importation of products made from certain marine mammals no matter where in the world they come from.

[OutMyWindow]

Up here in Canada, if you as much as look at Orcas/Whales the wrong way, the DFO will have you thinking about it while your’ doing jail lap-dances for smokes.
_________________________________
____________________


Whale Watching Guidelines

-Approach whales from the side, not from the front or the rear.
-Approach no closer than 100 metres and shift your motor into neutral or idle.
-Keep noise levels down - no horns, whistles or racing of motors.
-Start your motor only after the whales are more than 100 metres from your vessel.
-Leave the area slowly, gradually accelerating when you are more than 300 metres from the whales.
-Approach and depart slowly, avoiding sudden changes in speed or direction. Do not "leapfrog."
-Avoid disturbing groups of resting whales.
-Maintain low speeds and constant direction if travelling parallel to whales.
-When whales are travelling close to shore, avoid crowding them near the shore or coming between the whales and the shore.
-Limit the time spent with any group of whales to less than 30 minutes at a time when within 100 to 200 metres of whales.
-If there is more than one vessel at the same observation site, be sure to avoid any boat position that would result in encircling the whales.
-Minimize the time spent and the number of vessels with any one group of whales.
-Limit time, as above, and then move out to allow other vessels access to good viewing positions.
-Coordinate activities by maintaining contact with other vessels, and ensure that all operators are aware of the whale watching guidelines.

Summary convictions for contravention of the Fisheries Act or its regulations carry a fine of up to $100,000 a prison term up to one year, or both. Indictable convictions carry a fine of up to $500,000, prison terms of up to two years, or both. (Fisheries Act s.78)

[NYCAP123]

ScienceDaily (Oct. 20, 2008) — NOAA officials have issued a regulation that will implement new measures to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales.


The regulation will, for the first time, require large ships to reduce speeds to ten knots in areas where the whales feed and reproduce, as well as along migratory routes in between. The goal of the regulation is to reduce the risk of ship collisions with the whales.

“The ship strike rule, based on science, is a major addition to NOAA’s arsenal of protections for this endangered species," said Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.

With only 300 to 400 in existence, North Atlantic right whales are among the most endangered whales in the world. Slow moving right whales are highly vulnerable to ship collisions, since their migration route crosses major East Coast shipping lanes. Along with existing measures to prevent entanglement of right whales in fishing gear, the new ship strike reduction rule is the most comprehensive approach that NOAA has taken in its effort to help right whales recover.

The new rule requires vessels to travel at ten knots or less during the seasons whales are expected to be present, in designated areas along the East Coast. It will be up for renewal in five years, after scientists assess its effectiveness. The rule will go into effect in early December, 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

In the mid-Atlantic area, the 10-knot speed restrictions will extend out to 20 nautical miles around major ports. NOAA’s Fisheries Service researchers report that approximately 83 percent of right whale sightings in the mid-Atlantic were within 20 nautical miles of shore. The rule also establishes temporary voluntary speed limits in other areas when an aggregation of three or more right whales is confirmed.

The rule is part of NOAA’s broader ship strike reduction efforts. Existing protective actions include surveying whale migration routes by aircraft and mandatory ship reporting systems that provide advisories and information on right whale locations to mariners.

[Loren Schweizer]

The latest NOAA edict strictly prohibits humans from even discussing whales upon pain of death by drowning in an overdose of cod liver oil, so stop it already.

[Marmot]

"... prohibits humans from even discussing whales..."

Tell me about it, I haven't had Orca Jerky for a couple of years now. You can still get Humpback Sausage if you know the right people in SE Alaska but it's not like the old days.

[Seafarer]

Does this mean I can no longer wear my whaleskin coat with my panda scarf and baby seal boots while hunting white rhinos?

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by Marmot

"... prohibits humans from even discussing whales..."

Tell me about it, I haven't had Orca Jerky for a couple of years now. You can still get Humpback Sausage if you know the right people in SE Alaska but it's not like the old days.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm