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NOAA SFBA WHALE WARNING

 
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Riptide



Joined: 15 Jan 2011
Posts: 411

PostPosted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 8:40 am    Post subject: NOAA SFBA WHALE WARNING Reply with quote

http://www.sfba.org/news/give-whales-plenty-of-space-please-keep-a-safe-distance-from-whales
Good day,

I'm reaching out to your organization to help ensure a safe experience on the water for boardsports and boating enthusiasts, and for the whales that are currently feeding in San Francisco Bay and nearshore coastal waters.

NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary is concerned about recent incidents that may threaten some our wildlife that are entering San Francisco Bay and adjacent waters.

The local population of humpback whales usually feed in our marine sanctuary waters just beyond the Golden Gate. However, as you may know from the intensive media coverage this phenomenon generated this year and in 2016, the whales are now regularly following anchovies into the narrow bay entrance and the bay itself.

Over the past several weeks there have been a number of documented whale-strikes by small craft and boarders entering areas where these whales are known to be feeding. These are wild animals weighing nearly 80,000 lbs. but are still vulnerable. While here, they are focused heavily on foraging before their lengthy fall migration and several months' fast. Their swimming and surfacing patterns are completely unpredictable. This places anyone who enters the 300-foot perimeter that NOAA recommends in a dangerous position; the whales are in danger, too. If a whale becomes startled or veers suddenly, people can be seriously injured, and anyone near them, or trying to rescue them, could be struck. The whale itself could be lacerated and injured by keel, board or hull impacts, or entangled in lines, or forced into the path of a ship.

Earlier this week a seasoned whale rescuer on the east coast died when a young whale, panicked and trying to escape, struck him with its fluke. We don't want to see that tragedy happen ever again. As a member of NOAA's Large Whale Disentanglement Network, I know that rescue operations never permit actual entry into the water; so it would appear he may have been on a small boat at the time.

NOAA Fisheries is responsible for protecting marine mammals, and I am attaching their "Don't Give Chase - Give Whales Space" flyer. Please share this with your membership and others in the water sport community. A mention of what to do if you have a whale encounter would be a useful addition to a website Q&A page and any other outreach your association provides.

I hope you'll join us in promoting a saner, safer and more environmentally responsible approach to recreation around all forms of marine wildlife. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Mary Jane Schramm
GFNMS Media/Public Outreach



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MalibuGuru



Joined: 11 Nov 1993
Posts: 9293

PostPosted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is there anyone out there stupid enough to not give whales the right of way? I suppose these bureaucrats think there is.
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dllee



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 5328
Location: East Bay

PostPosted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 8:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Read the replies on the other thread about whales at Crissy, and you decide.
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beallmd



Joined: 10 May 1998
Posts: 1154

PostPosted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 10:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

all of this could have been reduced to stay a football field away. so is that law with fines or just a friendly reminder. these whales certainly are not shy about people otoh, they have been in Santa Cruz just off the end of the pier with people all around them and seem to go right on feeding.
.
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tomg



Joined: 10 Apr 2000
Posts: 294

PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 9:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What would a humpback feel if a windsurfer ran into it at full tilt?
Like a mosquito on my back? Swat!
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beallmd



Joined: 10 May 1998
Posts: 1154

PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 11:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The windsurfer would feel it, like turtles in Maui.
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loopless



Joined: 30 Jun 1997
Posts: 426

PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 1:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think that trying to link the unfortunate death of a Canadian fisherman who died in freak accident trying to untangle a panicked whale from a fishing net to paddle boarders observing a whale is stretching things a bit.

Even the graphic makes the paddle boarders look like they are encircling the whale to beat it with their paddles or something.
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