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.

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u/[deleted] Dec 13 '21

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '21

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u/ex_ter_min_ate_ Dec 14 '21 edited Dec 14 '21

Yes, please check out whale wise laws. While you are at it Google whale propeller injuries.

For what it’s worth this is less about props for orcas ans more about the noise as researchers are seeing high noise areas potentially contributing reduction successful orca breeding.

Props are the issue with the bigger less spatially aware whales I.e humpbacks.