Whale exclusion zones

[C lectric]

After a bunch of searching I found this in the SHIP SAFETY BULLETIN.

Talk about obfuscation. THis is not the first time I have been searching but I finally got lucky with something printable easily.

Covers the Gulf Islands area and out to and including Swiftsure Bank.
I doubt it is the only publication but it took some poking around so for any of you wondering/looking for this info take a look. Maybe it will help.


https://tc.canada.ca/sites/default/files/2021-08/SSB-19-2020E.pdf

 

[SteveK]

I can tell you this, North Pender Island has a spotter. The coast guard was calling boats by name during one day telling them they are in the zone, get out or else. Have not heard it since.

 

[sunchaser]

Thanks C. The section called "exemptions" seems to exclude all boaters and activities except whale watchers and recreational fishermen. Sointula, some clarification please.

 

[Bmarler]

1st exemption is a vessel in transit. What 3xactly does that cover?

 

[soin2la]

I can tell you this, North Pender Island has a spotter.

North Pender Island doesn’t have the lock on that. There are hundreds of land, sea and air spotters from Brooks, down through Juan de Fuca and back up to Cape Caution. One such “spotter” lives on the 17th floor of a Victoria high-rise, with a near 225º view. Most commercial vessels, including foreign going, BC Ferries, Helijet, Harbour Air et al, whale watchers and researchers are spotting and constantly monitoring hydrophones. Contrary to best loved tales it’s recreational boaters, including Facebook selfie seeking kayakers, that are the biggest nuisance, not whale watchers, although the latter are reaching ridiculous numbers.

Looking for a left handed heat exchanger ring welder and you’ll find it here. Whale Regulations…huh?

There is no shortage of information online, the problem is it’s a moving target. Different, US vs CA. Different, Gulf Islands vs Broughtons. Different, Baleen vs killer whales. Different, southern resident vs northern resident vs Biggs transient and offshore killer whales.

I can’t begin to unravel it in a single post so just start here:

DFO 2022
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp...s-baleines/srkw-measures-mesures-ers-eng.html

Report ON DFO 2022
https://www.newswire.ca/news-releas...outhern-resident-killer-whales-816849073.html

Whale Watching
https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/mammals-mammiferes/watching-observation/index-eng.html

US vs CA (Note this is dated 2020 and regulated distances have changed since.
https://www.bewhalewise.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BWWPos2020online-1.pdf

 

[SteveK]

Canada 400 meters & US 400 yards. Small difference.
Anyone have a device on board to measure 400?

Why not just say stay 1/4 nautical mile away, my chart plotter or radar rings can be set for that.
I was watching whales go by a what I thought was a proper distance as I could easily see them, only to have two whale watcher boats pass by me and get to what looked like 100 yards/meters.

 

[koliver]

A couple of weeks ago we were hanging around the Main, Pender and Saturna Islands. Every time I heard the CG telling a boat to get out of the Whale exclusion areas, I found that boat on AIS. There are no spotters, just the CG using AIS to target boats entering the exclusion areas.
This is a new thing. Last year I was near the exclusion area and noted the electronic corner buoys on my AIS app, so avoided the area. At the same time I noted other boats in the exclusion area but never a peep out of the CG.

 

[sunchaser]

Is this how it could be interpreted:

The red sections on the maps seem to be located off the SW shore of Pender and around Swiftsure Bank meaning avoid these areas. The more common yellow zones involve passage from Active Pass to Coal Island and most of Juan deFuca meaning no fishing or "loitering".

Plus, avoid or stay 400 meters from aquatic mammals virtually anywhere south of Campbell River. Now how the heck can I avoid the Orca that closely followed us, for about 20 minutes, near Nanaimo looking for a handout? Or the seal pup that hopped on our swim platform when anchored in Tribune Bay?

 

[soin2la]

Canada 400 meters & US 400 yards. Small difference.

Depends on species, ecotype, activity, and location.

Why not just say stay 1/4 nautical mile away.

How many recreational boaters these days know what a nautical mile is?

There are no spotters, just the CG using AIS to target boats entering the exclusion areas.

Correct, sort of. Just like RCMSAR, there are volunteer organizations, as well as professionals handing out information to boaters and reporting whale locations, movements and activities.
https://wildwhales.org/

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

I call the so called "whale watching", be it recreational or the big boats full of tourist as WHALE HARASSORS!!! You don't need to chase them.

BTW there is one of these "exclusion area" in northern Johnstone Straits.

 

[soin2la]

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I don't even know where to begin.

 

[SteveK]

How many recreational boaters these days know what a nautical mile is?

how many of those know what 400 yards/meters is. May as well say 2 cables.

 

[Chris Leigh-Jones]

I was just wondering, being naive and all. How do you design a sign that whale can easily read? Clever stuff out there, I tell you.

 

[SteveK]

Blubber speak

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Blubber speak

Now that is funny! LOL