The navigation of small sailboats on the southern coast of Spain was limited due to encounters with orcas
Os Recordamos…
La #DGMM ha extendido las restricciones a la navegación de veleros de hasta 15 metros de eslora entre el cabo de Trafalgar y Punta Paloma (#Cádiz) para evitar nuevos incidentes con las orcas.Hasta el día 20 de agosto!!! pic.twitter.com/JYjdOYY3lP
— SALVAMENTO MARÍTIMO (@salvamentogob) August 8, 2021
The Spanish authorities have limited the navigation of small sailboats on the south coast, in the area between Cape Trafalgar and Barbate (Cádiz), to avoid encounters with orcas.
Since the end of March, a total of 56 interactions between cetaceans and small boats have been registered, causing in some cases that they lose their rudder.
The two-week limitation prohibits most boats 15 meters or less from sailing close to shore. The authorities urge sailboats with a length greater than 15 meters to only use mechanical propulsion within the restricted area, while asking the rest of the vessels to refrain from carrying out whale watching activities.
In case of having an encounter with the killer whales, it is recommended “to stop the machine, lower the sails, leave the rudder on the track, disconnect the probe and prevent people on board from approaching the bands”, whenever this is possible. and do not pose a greater danger.
