Since 2020, a critically endangered population of orcas living in the waters of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) has been interacting with vessels, primarily sailboats, ramming and damaging the rudders and sometimes disabling navigation. Seven vessels have sunk due to the orcas’ actions. (See AWI Quarterly, winter 2023.) Despite the serious damage it can do to boats, this behavior appears to be play from the orcas’ point of view; the interactions should not be considered aggressive attacks. Regardless, the game is dangerous—for the whales and mariners—and the latter are eager to find a solution, before more damage is done.
AWI’s Dr. Naomi Rose, with other orca experts and regional government authorities, participated in a February workshop in Madrid to discuss management measures that might mitigate and potentially end these interactions (which resumed this year with the onset of the spring sailing season) without harming the whales. The workshop’s goal was to identify two or more effective—and safe—measures that could be made available to the regional boating community as soon as possible.
This spring, researchers in Portugal and Spain launched studies to test several potential measures identified at the workshop. If the measures succeed in taking the fun out of the game, orca experts expect the behavior to fade away, as other “fads” have in other orca populations. A report from the workshop was presented to the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee this spring, and its recommendations will be considered by the IWC at its meeting later this year.