6 transient Orca whales visit Sound, attract illegal attention

Staff report • Published August 30, 2011 Modified August 29, 2011

0 comments

A group of about six orca whales has been spotted in South Sound over the past few days, according to reports to Cascade Research Collective, an Olympia-based marine mammal research group.

The whales, which appear to include two calves or young whales, are transient orcas and not part of the three pods, or families of orca whales that reside much of the year in Puget Sound.

Since Friday, the whales have been seen in Budd Inlet, Boston Harbor, and Dana and Pickering passages, according to Cascadia Research biologist Annie Douglas.

With the good weather, the whales attracted a crowd of up to 16 boaters Sunday, including some traveling alongside the whales or positioning themselves in front of the whales.

Federal regulations that went into effect this year require boaters in the inland waters of the state to keep at least 200 yards away from whales and stay out of the whales’ path.

Enforcement officials for NOAA Fisheries have been notified of the alleged violations of the whale watching guidelines.

The NOAA enforcement number is 800-853-1964. For more information on proper whale watching, visit www.bewhalewise.org.

Similar stories:

Panel: Reduced salmon fishing may not help orcas

Panel: Reduced salmon fishing may not help orcas

Reducing fishermen's catch of Chinook salmon may not increase the availability of prey for endangered Puget Sound orcas, a panel of U.S. and Canadian scientists have found.
Range of bacteria found in orcas’ breath

Range of bacteria found in orcas’ breath

SEATTLE — The scientists followed the killer whales by boat, trying to catch the precise moment the animals broke the surface.
Judge dismisses suit to free orca from captivity

Judge dismisses suit to free orca from captivity

A federal judge in Tacoma, Wash., has dismissed a lawsuit aimed at freeing the killer whale Lolita from captivity at Miami Seaquarium.
Russian whale tracked to North America has visited before

Russian whale tracked to North America has visited before

Photo analysis has confirmed that the Western Pacific gray whale dubbed Flex - one of only 130 remaining of the endangered species - was photographed in 2008 off Canada's Vancouver Island and was assumed to be part of the eastern gray whale population.
No apparent cause for gray whale’s death

No apparent cause for gray whale’s death

SEATTLE — A gray whale found dead in Puget Sound had been feeding on shrimp and also had some debris, including a golf ball, in its stomach, but scientists don’t know what killed the animal.