SALISH SEA, Wash. – A couple of boaters are paying sizable fines for getting too close to endangered southern resident orcas off San Juan Island last fall.
NOAA Fisheries spokesman Michael Milstein says private individuals turned the boaters in.
“We got these reports from other whale watchers who were watching the whales from land when these boaters approached them so closely,” said Milstein. “They took pictures and reported them through our Be Whale Wise website. That’s bewhalewise.org.”
Regulations require boaters to stay at least 300 yards to the side of Southern Residents and at least 400 yards in front of or behind them.
Both boaters violated that zone but paid very different fines.
They had both rented boats, but one company failed to inform the renter about the rules so their fine was $300.
The other renter paid almost $3,000 because they were informed but ignored the information.
Boat noise is known to interfere with the endangered southern residents’ ability to forage for prey.
To listen to the full interview with Milstein, visit our Podcast page.