There are growing reports of interactions between Orcas and small boats around the Bay of Biscay, around the Portuguese coast and the Strait of Gibraltar.
The Cruising Association have started a campaign to record boater's experiences around these stretches of water to help scientists understand why orca are displaying unusual behaviour towards small boats. Once the behaviour can be understood, advice can be provided to help deter interactions between orcas and small vessels.
Data submitted includes factors such as date/route of passage, sea state/wind speed, boat speed, day/night, cloud cover, distance off land, sea depth, hull/antifoul colour, type of rudder, and the skipper’s comments on specific precautions taken and information on the experience if there was an interaction.