Last month many of us saw another viral cell phone video of an interaction between a recreational boat and a whale in our region. Fortunately, the passengers on the boat were not injured, but as is often the case the outcome wasn’t as fortunate for the whale.
From the inshore striped bass grounds to the offshore tuna grounds – and even sometimes in the inlets and bays, fishing boats and marine mammals are routinely finding themselves in the same waters off NY and NJ. In many ways this is a good thing, as fishermen we all want to see our bays and ocean teaming with life. But it also means most captains could benefit by brushing up on some tips and skills for keeping our boats, crew, and whales safe.
This month, The Nature Conservancy and a long list of other groups put together a short online tutorial that provides tips for identifying when whales are likely to be in the area, basic whale identification, rules and guidelines for how captains should maneuver when whales are around, and what to do if you see a distressed or injured animal. Other than staying home there is no way to fully eliminate risk of collisions, but just like driving a car in areas with deer, there are some basic steps that drivers can take to reduce risk.
The free course can be taken via mobile device or on a computer at www.boatingwithwhales.com. Participation is voluntary, and the team is working to get this material incorporated into the now mandatory NYS safe boating course. We encourage our readers to take the free course, stay safe, and enjoy it when you’re lucky enough to be fishing near whales and dolphins.
