A Bellingham boater was caught on camera driving through a pod of killer whales, and nearly striking an orca within moments of it leaping out of the water.
The video, documented by a wildlife photographer, netted the boater a $1,000 fine.The incident took place on the west side of San Juan Island back in 2022, but the fine was only levied recently after a drawn out legal process. The boater initially rejected a $300 fine, only for the potential fine to grow to $3,000 dollars before an attorney agreed to settle the case by paying a civil penalty.
There is hope that new legislation that forces vessels to give Southern Residents additional space could offer hope. Vessel noise is considered a major barrier for orcas, as studies have shown they will often abandon feeding efforts due to their reliance on echo location to hunt.Southern Resident killer whales are also facing an uphill battle in terms of prey availability, as the salmon it relies on is an endangered species itself.
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