Marine Experts Fear Harassment of Whales
As whale-watchers in Southern California begin coastal treks in search of migrating whales, environmentalists and marine experts say that they are concerned with mammal safety.
“The harassment has definitely increased. We had cases last year where 30 boats were trailing right behind only two whales,” said Ray Sautter of the National Marine Fisheries Service at Terminal Island.
The whale-watching season began Wednesday and continues through April. Tour boat skippers take tens of thousands of people for a close-up look at the huge sea mammals. But the boats often navigate too close to the whale pods. Whales split up when chased, and a calf or cow will not survive if it is separated from the group, Sautter said.
Federal guidelines direct boaters to stay at least 100 yards from a whale and to follow the speed of the slowest mammal in the pod.
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