Be Whale Wise Outreach Materials

“Be Whale Wise” is a promotional effort aimed at spreading the word to Pacific Northwest residents about the regulations that govern human-whale interaction.

We’d like your help informing the public about these new regulations and ensuring that boaters and kayakers don’t venture too close to whales.

If you would like copies of the Be Whale Wise brochures or posters, please send an email with desired quantity and mailing address to:

orca.plan@noaa.gov

Kayaker’s Code of Conduct

The Kayak Education Leadership Program (KELP) has developed viewing guidelines specifically for kayakers.  The Kayaker’s Code of Conduct provides information on responsible kayaking near whales and other wildlife and can be found on the Whale Museum’s web page at:

http://www.whalemuseum.org/downloads/soundwatch/KELP_brochure_2011.pdf

Land-Based Viewing

Learn about viewing marine mammals from shore.  Visit The Whale Trail web page at:

http://thewhaletrail.org/

Share the Shore

For more information on sharing the shore with harbor seal pups in Washington State, please visit NOAA Fisheries web site at:

http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/protected_species/marine_
mammals/stranding_network_information/stranding_
network_resources.html

News

In 2012 Washington State updated its vessel regulation protecting killer whales to correspond with federal regulations. See http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/orca/ for details.

Related Links

To report marine mammal sightings:

BC Cetacean Sightings Network (BC)
www.wildwhales.org or 1-866- I SAW ONE

The Whale Museum Hotline (WA state):
hotline@whalemuseum.org or 1-800-562-8832

Orca Network (WA state)
info@orcanetwork.org or 1-866-ORCANET

Need more information?
Canada:

Victoria and Southern Gulf Islands, Johnstone Strait and Northern Vancouver Island, West Coast Vancouver Island:

Straitwatch
www.straitwatch.org or 250-590-7723

Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve:
www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/eco_reserve/robsonb_er.html

Fisheries and Oceans Canada:
www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association:
www.nimmsa.org

US:

Washington State, Haro Strait Region:
Soundwatch Boater Education Program
www.whalemuseum.org or 360-378-4710

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife:
www.wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/orca/

NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Region:
www.nwr.noaa.gov

NOAA Fisheries, Office of Protected Resources:
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/education/viewing.htm

Pacific Whale Watch Association:
www.pacificwhalewatch.org