Orca interaction advice released
New advice has been issued to skippers on how to deal with interactions with orcas.
It comes following reports of juvenile orcas touching, pushing and pivoting on boats off the Spanish and Portuguese coasts last year. In some cases this disruptive behaviour resulted in damage to the stern, mainly on the rudder. Between July-november 2020, 45 interactions were recorded between the Strait of Gibraltar and Galicia in Spain. The incidents happened between 2-8 miles off the coast and mainly involved boats which were 50ft/15m or under. Two new cases have also been recorded in January 2021 on the Atlantic coast of Morocco and the Strait of Gibraltar. The Atlantic Orca Working Group has now issued a list of safety protocols for skippers. These include stopping the boat if an orca begins interacting with the vessel, and leaving the wheel loose if sea conditions and pilotage allow. Visit www.yachtingmonthly.com/orca