On behalf of the BC Cetacean Sightings Network
Summer is here and with the warm weather many locals and visitors alike will take to the water. Howe Sound is a popular area for boating given the close vicinity to Vancouver, beautiful scenery and calm conditions. Not only is the Sound a great place for boaters, whales, dolphins and porpoises are being spotted more frequently in the area! Residents of local communities such as Lions Bay, Gibsons and Horseshoe Bay can attest that Pacific white-sided dolphins are seen almost daily! Dall’s porpoise, harbour porpoise, killer whales, grey whales and humpback whales have all been spotted in Howe Sound over the past year.
In the excitement of spotting wild whales, dolphins, and porpoises (collectively referred to as cetaceans) it is easy to forget that the presence of humans and their vessels can impact these animals. Many of these species are threatened by pollution, food shortages and entanglement in fishing gear. The presence of vessels simply adds another level of risk. Noise, ship strike, injury and harassment are issues that some cetaceans face every day, especially over the busy summer boating months. This summer, make sure to follow the Be Whale Wise guidelines to ensure your boating experience keeps cetaceans safe and reduces dangerous disturbance.
“When we get too close, approach too quickly, or make too much noise, humans may disrupt the whales and interfere with foraging, resting and socializing”, says Caitlin Birdsall, coordinator of the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network. “Even worse, boats can directly injure cetaceans. This past April, dolphins with severed dorsal fins and scars from boat propellers were photographed in Howe Sound”. Needless to say, these unfortunate events occur all over the BC coast. For example, a humpback whale with dramatic propeller scars was photographed in Haida Gwaii last summer, and two killer whales were killed from a vessel collision in 2006. Sadly, the outcome of many collisions is often unknown as the animals are never re-sighted.
So what’s a boater to do? To enjoy wildlife safely, the Be Whale Wise guidelines have been developed to help minimize the risk of disturbance and injury to whales and dolphins. By becoming stewards of marine wildlife, boaters can make a difference!
Here are the Be Whale Wise guidelines:
1. BE CAUTIOUS and COURTEOUS: approach areas of known or suspected marine wildlife activity with extreme caution. Look in all directions before planning your approach or departure.
2. SLOW DOWN: reduce speed to less than 7 knots when within 400 metres/yards of the nearest whale. Avoid abrupt course changes.
3. KEEP CLEAR of the whales’ path. If whales are approaching you, cautiously move out of the way.
4. DO NOT APPROACH whales from the front or from behind. Always approach and depart whales from the side, moving in a direction parallel to the direction of the whales.
5. DO NOT APPROACH or position your vessel closer than 100 metres/yards to any whale.
6. If your vessel is not in compliance with the 100 metres/yards approach guideline (#5), place engine in neutral and allow whales to pass.
7. STAY on the OFFSHORE side of the whales when they are traveling close to shore.
8. LIMIT your viewing time to a recommended maximum of 30 minutes. This will minimize the cumulative impact of many vessels and give consideration to other viewers.
9. DO NOT swim with, touch or feed marine wildlife.
Some of the curious and playful dolphin visitors to Howe Sound present a tricky situation when it comes to bow-riding. In the case of bow and stern-riding porpoises or dolphins:
1. DO NOT drive through groups of porpoises or dolphins to encourage bow or stern-riding.
2. Should dolphins or porpoises choose to ride the bow wave of your vessel, avoid sudden course changes. Hold course and speed or reduce speed gradually.
Wildlife watching on the water can be a special experience. Remember your actions can help keep whales, dolphins and porpoise safe and greatly reduce human impacts on these species.
The BC Cetacean Sightings Network is interested in whale, dolphin and porpoise sightings from all over the coast. Help us in recovery planning, research and conservation by reporting your sightings to 1-866-I-SAW-ONE, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or report online at www.wildwhales.org.
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