Reckless boater shown nearly running over humpback whales

Reckless boater shown nearly running over humpback whales

A series of dangerous encounters between motorized vessels and humpback whales has highlighted the risks of high-speed boating in migration and feeding zones. From the coasts of Western Australia and British Columbia to the waters of New Hampshire, recent incidents have seen whales nearly struck by boats or, in one instance, a whale landing directly on a fishing vessel.

Near-collisions in Canada and Australia

On June 29, near Quadra Island, a whale-watching tour operated by Jenefer Smalley of Wild Waterways Adventures encountered a speeding boater who nearly struck a three-year-old humpback whale named Tutu. Smalley, who has guided in the area for eight years, reported that her crew and 12 guests waved their arms, used a marine radio for emergency calls, and raised a special flag to signal a whale's presence.

The boater ignored these signals, prompting Smalley to describe the event as disrespectful and unacceptable. The collision was avoided only when Tutu took a sudden dive. Smalley noted that at the speed the boat was traveling, both the driver and the whale could have been killed.

Following the incident, the community used social media to identify the vessel. The boat was later recognized on Cortes Island, and its license number was reported to Fisheries and Oceans Canada. While the tour company sought information on potential repercussions, the agency had not provided a response as of the time of reporting.

Similar footage was captured this week at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia by Robert Sarginson. The video shows a boater speeding through a narrow space between a mother humpback whale and her calf. In a defensive response, the mother whale threw her tail toward the vessel. Humpback whales are currently migrating along that coast toward breeding and mating grounds.

A "one-in-a-million" accident in New Hampshire

In a different type of encounter on a Tuesday off the coast of New Hampshire, a humpback whale breached and landed on top of a boat called the Parker, sending two East Coast striper fishermen flying into the ocean. Capt. Mike Genestreti, owner of MAG Charters, was 20 to 30 yards away when the boat capsized.

Genestreti compared the sound and violence of the event to a car crash. He attributed the incident to a massive run of bunker—a type of baitfish—that had drawn both the whale and striper fishermen to the mouth of the Pisquataqua River.

Genestreti suggested the fishermen suffered from striper fever and were focused on the fish rather than their surroundings. He noted that while he does not believe the anglers were being irresponsible, they could have given the whale more space. The whale remained in the area following the accident, feasting on baitfish.

Safety Regulations and Guidelines

The incidents underscore established safety protocols for maritime traffic in whale habitats. According to Smalley, boaters are required to follow specific distance and speed rules:

• Stay 100 metres from humpback whales.
• Stay 200 metres from whales accompanied by a calf.
• Slow to seven knots or less when a whale flag is raised.

These yellow and black flags, featuring a whale tail, are used by scientific vessels, private boaters, and tour operators to alert others of a whale's immediate presence. Additionally, NOAA recommends a minimum distance of 100 yards from whales.

The risks remain high during local events and migrations. Recently, a high-speed racer in the annual Nanaimo Bathtub Race came within a few metres of a surfacing humpback whale near Nanaimo.

The two fishermen from the New Hampshire incident were rescued by nearby boaters and later recovered their capsized vessel with assistance from a local towboat service and the U.S. Coast Guard.