In the December edition of the Cruising Association’s magazine, they give an update on the on-going Orca Project around the Atlantic coast of France, Spain and Portugal.

Published 3 weeks ago

CA Orca Project Update

Interactions between orca and yachts continued throughout last season (2024). The key differences have been that the interactions started slightly later in 2024, and there was a reduction through the busiest period from June to August.

However, by September, the monthly number of interactions returned to the same level as in 2023, resulting in 119 to the end of October 2024 as opposed to 163 in 2023.

The CA do not know whether this reduction was because skippers are being more cautious or whether the orca are changing their behaviour.

There have been many fewer interactions off the west coast of Portugal which has meant it was impossible to run the Portuguese government-led trials of the Genuswave acoustic startle device. They are looking at the possibility of running a 2025 trial in Spanish waters.

Orca interaction location data table

After five seasons there has been some consistency in the location and time of interactions, so a database has been built by the CA Orca Project Team and published as a table, which should prove useful to anyone planning to sail through the affected waters.

Orca-historical-interaction-location-data.pdf

It analyses orca interactions from 2020 to the present, covering the Atlantic coasts of France, Portugal, Spain, and the Strait of Gibraltar. Based on monthly data from Grupo Trabajo Orca Atlantica (GTOA), it provides the interaction locations by year and month. Because they are not made aware of absolutely every interaction, the GTOA information cannot be regarded as 100% accurate, but it is very comprehensive and provides a useful guide as to the likely risk of an interaction.

The table highlights in green where there have been no interactions in that section of coast by year and month. It can be accessed from www.theca.org.uk/orcas/reports.

While the data offers helpful insights, it is still crucial to use up-to-date GTOA monthly maps and the CA’s recommended protocols when planning passages in affected areas.

Interaction Comments Library

The CA orca project team has also updated the skippers’ Interaction Comments Library at www.theca.org.uk/orcas/interaction-deterrent-library. Over 40 new entries have been added, including a new section for stopping the boat. This has been introduced to try to help skippers prepare what to do if they are unfortunate enough to have an interaction.

There are two very different options:

• Stop the yacht – as the scientists have stated that calms the orca as it is less stimulating for them and will lead to them getting bored and as a result to cause less damage, or…
• Leave the area as fast as possible – as scientists also believe that the main pod will be feeding and the orcas involved in hitting the rudder will not want to leave the others.

There appear to be interactions when both have worked and when both have not. The Orca Team is trying to make available as much information as possible to help skippers decide which option will suit their particular circumstances. A powerfully engined yacht close to shallow water will have a potential that one with a much smaller engine some way offshore may not. Likewise, heaving-to in calm conditions is very different from trying it with a large following sea.

Sailors preparing for a passage within and through the affected areas can read skippers’ comments collated into different deterrent measure sections: Reversing; Noise; Sand; Continued sailing/motoring; Stopping the boat; Other measures.

Be Safe, Be Prepared

In 2024, only two CA members reported an interaction with orca, and fortunately neither yacht sustained damage.

To help, the CA continues to encourage crews to stay safe by being prepared for the risk of an encounter with orca, in the way they prepare for the risk of stormy weather, by collecting and sharing information on precautions and protocols to help crews minimise the risk of encounters and provide guidance on actions to take if one occurs. Although most yachts avoid orca interactions, understanding the risks and knowing how to minimise the likelihood of an interaction is crucial.

To avoid known danger zones, the CA recommends that skippers:

• Review the Interaction Table referred to above before planning to voyage through the affected waters.
• Research the information on the CA’s dedicated orca portal for resources including the CA Checklist, Risk Reduction and Deterrent Measures, and prepare to be able to follow the recommended Safety Protocol at www.theca.org.uk/orcas.
• Stay updated with the GTOA traffic light risk map at www.orcaiberica.org/en/recomendaciones, the GTOA’s interaction and sightings app GTOrcas, and the Orcinus app for current sightings.
• In addition, some social media sites such as Orca Attack Reports on Facebook have reports of current sightings.

Submit a report

The CA are disappointed that the number of reports being made on the CA website has fallen this season, as it is the only permanent repository of comprehensive information on what occurred and is valued by scientists and the press as well as by sailors. Please take the time to submit your reports on interactions or on uneventful passages through areas of interactions to assist the CA in developing its resources for all at www.theca.org.uk/orcas.

How to Navigate “Orca Alley”

If preparing for a transit around/along the Iberian Peninsula where orca are active, use these guidelines published by Noonsite in collaboration with the CA and learn how you can use your experience to help those following in your wake.

• Read Part 1: Passage Planning Tips (January 2024)
• Read part 2: FAQs Prior to Departure (February 2024)
• Read part 3: What to do at sea should you encounter orcas (March 2024)
• Read Part 4. Analysis of orca locations (April 2024)

Other useful articles/webinars/links to help prepare include:

• How to Avoid Killer Whales Interaction Poster (above) – produced by the Spanish Government.
• The Spanish Maritime Transport webpage has orca recommendations
• Orcas.pt – Talking about orcas with Renaud de Stephanis of Circe (March 2024)
• Orca Encounters on boats: What you need to know (Practical Boat Owner January 2024)
• Dealing with Orca “Attacks” and How to Navigate “Orca Alley” (Yachting Monthly September 2023)
• Useful recording of CA webinar Orca and Yachts: Fact, Fiction and Fear (May 2023)

See Noonsite’s Orca and Yachts page for a history of Orca behaviour around the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula since 2020 and many useful links.

Find out more about the Cruising Association here.