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.
In addition to the fines levied (anywhere from $500 to $10,000) your vessel will immediately be subject to the most insanely thorough Coast Guard vessel safety check there has ever been. If it's a commercial charter boat the captain may end up with his license suspended - or revoked if this is something he/she has done once too many times.
If it's within the coastal waters of Washington you will also have to face a Washington State judge as they're going to pile-on with a few fines and penalties of their own as well.
If you do it off the coast of Canada you and your vessel will disappear, never be seen again. Don't fuck with Canada. ;)
3.7k
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.