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Best Practices & Guidelines for Tour Operators When in the Proximity of Whales
From two miles to one mile away:
Reduce speed to 13 knots. Post a dedicated lookout to assist the vessel operator in monitoring the location of all marine mammals. Avoid sudden changes in speed and direction. Aircraft should observe the FAA minimum altitude of 1,000 feet over water.
From one mile to one-half mile away:
Reduce speed to 10 knots.
From one-half mile to 600 yards away:
Reduce speed to 7 knots and maneuver to avoid head-on approach.
Close approach procedure 600 feet or closer:
Parallel the course and speed of moving whales up to the designated speed limit within that distance. Do not ever attempt a head-on approach to whales.
Approach and leave stationary whales at no more than idle or "no wake" speed, not to exceed 7 knots. Do not intentionally drift down on whales. Vessels in multi-vessel approaches should maintain communication with each other (via the appropriate VHF channels for hailing) to coordinate viewing.
Take into account the presence of obstacles (vessels, structures, fishing gear or the shoreline). All vessels in close approach should stay to the side or behind the whales so they do not box in the whales or cut off their path.
Standby Zone - From 300 feet to 600 feet away:
Two vessel limit within the 300- to 600-foot Standby Zone at any one time.
Close Approach Zone - From 100 feet to 300 feet away:
One vessel limit. Other vessels stand off. (Up to two vessels in the Standby Zone and others outside 600 feet). If more than one vessel is within 600 feet, the vessel within 300 feet should limit its time to 15 minutes in close approach to whales.
No Intentional Approach within 100 feet.
Do not approach within 100 feet of whales. If whales approach within 100 feet of your vessel, put engines in neutral and do not reengage propulsion until whales are observed clear of harm's way from your vessel.
Departure Procedure
All vessels should leave the whales following the same speed and distance procedures described above.
In order for vessels to be clear of whales before dark, vessels should cease whale watching and begin their return to port 15 minutes before sunset.
Source - National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration web site.
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