BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A Bellingham man is in hot water for piloting his yacht through a pod of orcas in the Salish Sea.
NOAA Fisheries says Matt Ryan will pay a $1,000 fine after a wildlife videographer filmed the 51-foot M/V Cypress Point off the west side of San Juan Island in 2022.
The captain of a nearby vessel reportedly sounded his horn and used hand signals to try to warn Ryan about the pod of orcas.
But the Cypress Point continued through the pod with one whale leaping from the water as the vessel approached.
Regulations at the time required vessels to stay at least 200 yards away from any orcas in the Salish Sea.
Boat traffic near orcas can disrupt their hunting and put the whales under additional stress which can impact their survival and reproduction.
If you witness a violation while out on the water, you can report it here.
