In an unusual event requiring unusual measures, more than a hundred whales are now again about around Northen California’s coast, in a view which is both a feast for the eyes and rare enough that federal officials have issued boating warnings to pilots in the area.
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Maria Brown, superintendent of the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary said, “We are alerting small boaters and large vessel operators to be on the alert for endangered whales, and to maintain minimum distances”. About 115 humpbacks were documented in just one hour near the Farallon Islands on July 4th, according to a San Jose Mercury-News report.
To ease the threat of vessels striking whales, federal officials say recreational boaters, including fishermen, should remain at least 300 feet away – the federal minimum distance guideline.
One of the more experienced sailors of those parts, dean of the Bay Area salmon fleet and at the same time captain of Sausalito’s Salty Lady, 80 year-old Roger Thomas has expressed his awe at the situation, stating that he’d never seen anything like in his decade-old sea career. He said, “It’s unbelievable”. Under the Marine Mammal Protection act as well as the Endangered Species Act, whales are legally protected against all forms of harassment.
Blue whales are drawn to droves of krill, which are small shrimp-like crustacean, while humpbacks close in on huge schools of anchovies.
On a whale-watching trip, Thomas said he sighted 25 humpbacks and three blue whales, most within range of Southeast Farallon Island. Researchers said that it is not a problem that these whales are jumping, as it a normal behavior of them.
On another day, San Francisco’s Land’s End onlookers have witnessed about 8 to 10 humpbacks only a mile offshore.
Humpback whales have been “guarding” the entrance to the bay for several weeks now, as they have landed in what could be called food heaven.
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The abundance of feed has made for a good salmon fishing season as well, the skipper said.
