How to handle orca incidents

Following a flurry of interactions between boats and orca whales off

Spain and Portugal in the last year, the Atlantic Orca Working Group (AOWG) has issued new advice to skippers on how to deal with the whales.

Between July-november 2020, 45 interactions were recorded between the Strait of Gibraltar and Galicia in Spain, including reports of juvenile orca swimming into, pushing and even biting boats off the Spanish and Portuguese coasts last year.

In some cases this resulted in damage to the boats, mainly to rudders or sterns. The incidents happened 2-8 miles offshore and mainly involved boats which were 50ft/15m or under and either sailing or motorsailing.

The AOWG has drawn up a map of whale interactions, and issued a list of safety protocols for skippers. If an orca begins to interact with the yacht, sailors are advised to stop the boat (take down the sails), switch off the engine and electrical equipment, and leave the wheel loose if conditions allow, then contact the authorities (by phone on

112 or by VHF Ch16). They advise not shouting at the animals, and do not let yourself to be seen unnecessarily.

However, if you have a camera record the animals, especially their dorsal fins, to help identify them afterwards. Make notes of what happened, record the date, time and your position then send the information and images to gt.orcas.ibericas@gmail.com