OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has announced new rules for boaters to protect the Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) population.
Passed by state legislature in 2023, the rules are intended to reduce vessel noise and allow whales to live their lives with minimal disturbance.
Starting on Jan. 1, all boaters on motorized or non-motorized vessels must stay 1,000 yards away from all SRKW in all directions. The WDFW states that if a whale approaches within 400 yards of the vessel, boaters are to disengage the transmission, luff sails or stop paddling (if it is safe to do so) until the animal moves away.
“WDFW and partners are working to address these threats, and this new 1,000-yard buffer is a major step in reducing the impacts of vessel disturbance on SRKW behavior. Boaters reducing noise by staying farther away effectively makes more prey available to SRKW by making it easier for the whales to find and catch salmon,” said Dr. Julie Watson, killer whale policy lead with the WDFW.
In addition to the SKRW population, Washington state is home to the Bigg’s (transient killer whales) which are subject to a 200-yard buffer under federal law.
