On Jan. 1, a new Washington state law will change rules for recreational watercraft operating in the vicinity of endangered Southern Resident orcas. Under the new law, recreational vessels must stay a minimum of 1,000 yards away from Southern Residents in an effort to both reduce noise that interferes with the orcas’ echolocation and provide the whales with enough room to forage without interruption.

Orca Network’s Share the Water boater education program is hosting a free webinar about the new rule on Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 6-8 p.m. Guest speakers from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will explain the details of the new law and answer questions.

“We know there is some confusion about how this law will work, and we want to share accurate information with both those who are on the water and those who are watching whales from shore,” said Rachel Haight, co-coordinator of Orca Network’s Whale Sighting Network. “We also want boaters to understand the resources that are available to help them know when Southern Residents are in the Salish Sea, so they can plan their routes to avoid getting too close.”

One point of confusion is that the new rule does not apply to mammal-eating transient or Bigg’s killer whales, who in recent years have been present in Puget Sound more often than the Southern Residents. The Bigg’s orcas are not endangered and are not easy for most people to tell apart from Southern Residents.

“If you encounter orcas while on the water and you aren’t familiar with the differences between Residents and Bigg’s, it is best to assume they are Residents. Avoid the area if you can, or maintain 1,000 yards of distance,” said Orca Network program manager Stephanie Raymond.

Orca Network’s Whale Sighting Network shares real-time sighting reports on the Orca Network Community Group Facebook page and via text alert subscription, so that shore-based watchers know where and when to watch the water for approaching whales. These reports identify Southern Resident orcas or Bigg’s orcas once the network has been able to confirm which type of orca is present, information that boaters can use to stay in compliance with the new law. Sighting reports also let large vessels know they should slow down to reduce noise and keep a careful lookout for the whales when they are nearby.

“Real-time sightings enable Orca Network to keep commercial shipping traffic up to date on the location of the Southern Resident orcas at all times,” said Haight. “That’s important since the new law doesn’t apply to commercial boats, like cargo ships or ferries.”

Commercial whale-watching vessels, however, are also required to stay 1,000 yards away from Southern Residents.

“Trained naturalists on board those boats know how to tell Resident and Bigg’s orcas apart, and captains of licensed whale-watching boats are also required to demonstrate that they can tell the difference,” said Raymond.

Anyone who sees a whale, from shore or from a boat, is encouraged to send a report to Orca Network via sightings@orcanetwork.org or https://www.orcanetwork.org/report-sightings. To register for the free webinar on Dec. 3, visit https://givebutter.com/STWRulewebinar. Orca Network’s Share the Water boater education program offers free in-person or virtual workshops to recreational watercraft groups, which may be scheduled via info@orcanetwork.org.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Stephanie Raymond

Stephanie@orcanetwork.org

206.849.4351

Rachel Haight

Rachel@orcanetwork.org

402.490.0657