Safe Whale Watching on the West Coast - Be Whale Wise

Give Whales Space

Whales are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act from acts of harassment. To avoid harassing a marine mammal, stay at least 100 yards—the length of a football field—away from whales. Federal and state regulations provide additional protections for some species. In Puget Sound, stay 200 yards from transient (Bigg’s) killer whales and 1,000 yards from Southern Resident killer whales, or about one half nautical mile. Learn more about protective regulations and guidelines for marine mammals in Washington and British Columbia at www.BeWhaleWise.org.

Admiring whales from a distance is the safest and most responsible way to view them in their natural habitat. They are wild, unpredictable animals that can move surprisingly fast. Approaching them too closely endangers you and the whales, and may violate federal or state law.

Drone Operators

• Avoid flying drones, or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), near animals. The noise and close proximity of drones can harass the animals and cause stress.
• Fly during daylight hours only and keep your drone in sight.
• Stop your vessel before flying your drone.

Boaters

If you see a whale, follow these responsible viewing guidelines:

• Slow down and operate at a no-wake speed.
• Stay out of the path of the whale’s direction of travel. Specifically in Puget Sound, stay out of the path of transient (Bigg’s) killer whales by 400 yards—i.e., about four football fields—and Southern Resident killer whales by 1,000 yards.
• Do not put your vessel between whales, especially mothers and calves.
• Do not chase or harass them, and do not approach the animals head-on, from directly behind them, or from the side (t-bone). Instead, gradually steer your vessel to be parallel to the animals from the side and stay at least 100 yards away—i.e., the length of a football field.

Report

To report a dead, injured, or stranded marine mammal in Washington, Oregon, or California:

• West Coast Region Stranding Hotline: 1-866-767-6114
• Regional Stranding Response Contacts

To report entangled marine mammals:

• Entanglement Reporting Hotline: 1-877-SOS-WHAL or 1-877-767-9425
• The U.S. Coast Guard: VHF Ch. 16

To report harassments and other violations to law enforcement:

NOAA Enforcement Hotline: 1-800-853-1964

To report derelict gear:

Derelict Gear Hotline: 1-855-542-3935

Resources

• Marine Mammals of the West Coast (PDF, 2 pages)
• WDFW Killer Whale Resources and Regulations for Boaters

Be Whale Wise

• Be Whale Wise website
• Brochure (English) (PDF, 2 pages)
• Brochure (Spanish) (PDF, 2 pages)
• Brochure (Chinese) (PDF, 2 pages)