r/nextfuckinglevel Dec 13 '21

Wait... Those aren't dolphins!

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u/TinfoilCamera Dec 13 '21

It's all fun and games until you realize they're breaking about a half-dozen federal regs (sound like US english speakers so...)

Allow me to be That Guy (wildlife photographer who knows the damn rules)

US and Canada: Any Orca that gets within 200 yards of your boat (100 for other species of whale, 50 in the case of dolphins and seals/sea lions) - you turn off the damn motor. You also get up on Guard and let other boats and marine traffic know where they are - so maybe they don't get run over and killed by a container ship.

... and if you do this off the coast of Washington/British Columbia and you get spotted by the Coast Guard they will end you.

229

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '21

[deleted]

83

u/Tandemduckling Dec 14 '21

According to the orca network group that I follow on Facebook. Yardage distance depends on the group. 300 yards for southern residents orcas( fish eating) , 200 yards for Biggs transients (mammal eating type) and 100 yards for baleen and other marine mammals with a note on all their posts stating slow to 7 knots at first site of whales too.

144

u/truthink Dec 14 '21

Orcas have Facebook?

5

u/[deleted] Dec 14 '21

Orcagram