Pictured: Just off Robson Bight, a killer whale was seen chasing a Dall’s porpoise. While it did eventually catch its prey, the whale appeared to change course and dive longer as a boat approached and passed. Transient killer whales find prey mostly by listening for the sounds they make, and boat noise seriously interferes with this. The operator of the vessel would have certainly seen this whale, as it breached several times as the boat approached, but no effort was made to avoid the whale or slow down; in fact, it appeared as if they adjusted their course toward the whale. This type of behaviour by vessel operators is very common on our coast and should be reported.

One of the most rewarding benefits of cruising our local waters is seeing whales, dolphins and porpoises. Many boaters have thrilling stories to tell about encounters with orcas or bow-riding dolphins.

In our excitement, it’s easy to forget that our presence can also impact these animals, many of which are already threatened by pollution and changes in the coastal food web. As our waters become congested with vessel traffic, the levels of noise pollution and the potential for collisions create a dangerous environment for marine mammals.

“When we get too close, approach too fast, or make too much noise, we may interfere with the whales’ need to find food and rest,” says Alana Phillips, a researcher with Wild Whales, the B.C. cetacean sightings network. “Even worse, we may directly injure whales and dolphins—in recent years, more whales show scars from boat propellers; we’ve seen both a humpback whale calf and a baby orca run over by speedboats.”

So what’s a boater to do? By becoming stewards of marine wildlife, boaters can make a difference. The “Be Whale Wise” guidelines have been developed to help boaters enjoy wildlife encounters while minimizing the risk of disturbing whales and dolphins; these include:

1. Slow down to less than 7 knots when whales are nearby.

2. Give the whales a wide berth—never approach closer than 100 metres.

3. Do not block the whales’ path; always travel parallel to them. If whales approach your boat, cautiously move out of the way.

4. Do not encourage dolphins and porpoises to bow-ride. Should they choose to do so, maintain your course and speed to avoid collisions.

Never approach a whale closer than 100 metres (equal to one football field).