Spotting whales is one of those things that grounds you in how beautiful life is and gives you a profound sense of gratitude.
As of Jan. 1, 2025, vessels in Washington waters must stay 1,000 yards away from Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) at all times.
These regulations are intended to reduce vessel noise and disturbance around this endangered population of orcas, giving them the space they need to hunt, rest, and communicate. Underwater vessel noise — along with toxic contamination and a lack of prey — is one of the key threats to SRKW.
If a Southern Resident killer whale approaches or surfaces between 400-1,000 yards of your vessel, safely move away and out of the path of the whale at a speed of 7 knots or less. If within 400 yards of a killer whale, disengage your transmission if it is safe to do so, and wait until the whale(s) move out of the area.
Vessel regulations for distance from Southern Resident killer whales
WDFW recommends reeling in all fishing gear to also reduce the risk of entanglement and/or damage to gear or vessels. WDFW also recommends that boaters in paddlecraft such as kayaks stop paddling, and that sailboats luff their sails if an orca approaches within 400 yards, if it is safe to do so.
In addition to the endangered SRKW population, Washington is also home to the Bigg’s, or transient, killer whales, which are subject to a 200-yard, do-not-approach buffer zone under federal law.
Because of the difficulty telling the difference between these killer whales at long distances, WDFW encourages all boaters to treat unidentified killer whales as though they’re SRKW and maintain the 1,000-yard minimum distance whenever possible.
The new law applies to all recreational vessels in Washington’s marine waters. There are some exceptions for certain types of commercial, law enforcement, or research vessels. See theFrequently Asked Questions for more information.
