Aug 14 2008

Whales of Fall

Published by Capt. Dan at 09:11 under Sailing

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Fin Whale near Santa Cruz Island

Several Blue Whales were killed in the Santa Barbara Channel last fall. The whales are back and the Coast Guard has posted the following alert in this week’s Local Notice to Mariners:

CALIFORNIA SEACOAST-WHALES-POINT CONCEPTION TO POINT DUME

Large whales, including Blue Whales, Humpback Whales, and Fin Whales, have recently been sighted in the Santa Barbara Channel and Traffic
Separation Scheme between Point Conception and Point Dume. These large whales are listed as endangered species and are protected under
Federal Law.

Mariners are advised to keep a sharp lookout for these large whales. NOAA strongly recommends that vessels 300 gross registered tons or
larger transiting the Traffic Separation Scheme do so at speeds not in excess of 10 knots.
Please report any collisions with whales and any observed live, injured, or dead whales including time and position, to NOAA at 562-980-4017 or
the U.S. Coast Guard.

I’d also like to point out that we’re not supposed to close to less than 100 yards to any marine mammal. However, they can approach us. In general, when I find myself in close proximity, I maintain a steady course and speed, treating them as “stand-on.”

You can see in this video that they will get close and can be downright frolicsome.

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One response so far

One Response to “Whales of Fall”

  1. # Travison 14 Aug 2008 at 10:14

    Spectacular!!

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