marine mammals - vessels & approaches

What Types of Vessels should be permitted to view Marine Mammals?

Prohibited vessels
Certain vessels should not be used for whale and dolphin watching. These include all personal motorized watercraft (e.g. jet skis and similar crafts, and underwater vessels), parasail, remotely operated craft, wing in ground effect craft, hovercraft, windsurfers, kite surfers.

Allowable vessels
Vessels recommended for use in whale and dolphin watching include all other motorized and/or sail craft.

ANGLES & DISTANCES OF APPROACH

Approach
The most appropriate method for approaching a whale or a dolphin is from the side and slightly to the rear of the animal. Avoid approaches from head on or directly from behind.

Caution zone
The caution zone is the area within 100m - 300m from a whale and 50m – 300m from a dolphin.

No approach zone
These distances refer to active approaches by vessels moving towards cetaceans.

Dolphins and whales may sometimes approach vessels to closer distances. Closer specific approach distances could be considered to reflect local conditions/situations/ licensing where changes to the recommended distances would not compromise the protection of the individuals/populations being watched. 
  • For a vessel, the no approach zone is 100m from a whale and 50m from a dolphin including the area directly in front and behind a pod. 
  • Prohibited vessels should not enter the caution zone. 
  • If a vessel accidentally approaches cetaceans closer than the recommended distance, it must move away from the no-approach zone at slow speed.
  • Helicopters or gyrocopters must not get closer (in height or distance) than 500 m to a whale or dolphin. 
  • Other planes must not get closer (in height or distance) than 300 m to a whale or dolphin.

Approaches of Mother and Calf pairs
  • Pods of cetaceans containing calves are particularly vulnerable to disturbance and require additional protection. Exercise extreme caution with pods containing calves.
  • Site-specific restrictions on length of encounter and distance of approach should be considered for pods with calves.
Picture
Recommended approach distance for whales.
Picture
Recommended approach for dolphins.