GET OFF MY TAIL! IT'S THE LAW.

The new Washington State Vessel Laws became effective June 12, 2008. Soundwatch has been working closely with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Office and the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission to create and distribute educational materials to inform boaters on the new laws for Southern Resident Orcas. Click the appropriate link to download posters and brochures outlining the state laws as well as an overview of the Endangered Listing Status and State and Federal Laws in the latest edition of the Washington State Parks Adventures in Boating Handbook. Help us spread the news by getting the word out to your family and friends, as well as local marine business and boating groups. In brief, hHere are the new responsibilities for all boaters in Washington State Waters:

In Washington State, it is unlawful to*:

• APPROACH within 100 yards of a killer whale.
  
• INTERCEPT a killer whale by placing a vessel or allowing a vessel or other object to remain in the path and within 100 yards of a killer whale.
  
• FAIL TO IMMEDIATELY DISENGAGE a vessel's transmission within 100 yards of a killer whale.
  
• HARASS any marine mammal.
  *Some exemptions apply.
  
  

See Wildlife Viewing at WWW.WDFW.WA.GOV for more information.

Boaters are encouraged to follow the Be Whale Wise Guidelines for Watching Marine Wildlife.

Thanks for Being Whale Wise and spreading the word,

Kari Koski and the Soundwatch Crew!

In the U.S., marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and are managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service who have sole jurisdiction (excepting walrus and sea otters) superceding any state or local governments.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada manage marine mammals under the Fisheries and Oceans Act of 1978-79, but there is no marine mammal protection act equivalent in Canada.

Both the U.S. and Canadian federal agencies have established northwest regional marine mammal viewing guidelines to prevent the likelihood of harassment or injury (see the National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources and Fisheries and Oceans Canada Marine Mammal Monitoring Project).

In 2001 Fisheries and Oceans Canada piloted the Marine Mammal Monitoring Project (M3) to assess vessel impacts on marine wildlife in southern British Columbia. The Whale Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program was used as a model for the project and, now, Soundwatch and M-3 act as transboundary counter parts, often working in tandem to increase the effectiveness of both team's on-the-water-education and monitoring efforts.

M-3 and Soundwatch staff consulted with regional users and mangers to develop a single set of voluntary guidelines printed in an international wildlife viewing brochure Be Whale Wise. FOC and NMFS have signed-off on the brochure as regional guidelines. The Be Whale Wise brochure was designed to target private boaters throughout the region on general marine wildlife viewing etiquette. The Be Whale Wise brochure is now used throughout the region by various groups as general information, and can be supplemented with any local information anywhere with in the Salish Sea.

See the New Revised 2006 Be Whale Wise Guidelines for Watching Marine Wildlife

Soundwatch summarizes existing regional, San Juans-specific, and Marine Protected Areas viewing guidelines into Soundwatch brochures and posters targeting private boaters and kayakers in the Salish Sea.

See the Soundwatch Marine Wildlife Viewing Guidelines

A component of the Soundwatch Boater Education Program is the Kayak Education and Leadership Program (K.E.L.P.). K.E.L.P. educators teach commercial and private kayakers about marine stewardship and promote the Responsible Kayaker Code to help reduce disturbances to marine wildlife by irresponsible boating practices.

See the K.E.L.P. Responsible Kayaker Code and map. Or view a slide show of the K.E.L.P. program.

Since its inception in 1994, the international Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA), formerly known as the Whale Watch Operators Association of the Northwest, has annually adopted a working set of international guidelines for commercial boat operators that are more explicit. Incorporating suggestions from Soundwatch, commercial drivers, residents and regional scientists, the WWOANW implements a new working set of guidelines each spring, and holds drivers meetings to interpret the changes for the commercial operators who ultimately are responsible for the behavior of the commercial vessel industry as a whole.