NOAA Fisheries reminds all fishermen and boaters to keep a safe distance from whales. Whales can get hooked in tuna rigs or tangled in monofilament lines. Recently, the Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Network has received a number of reports of fishermen trolling their gear too close to humpback whales. This can result in injuries to both the whales and the people.

When fishing around whales, fishermen are reminded to:

• Keep your distance: NOAA Fisheries recommends all fishermen and boaters to keep a safe distance from whales of at least 100-600 ft (and at least 1500 ft from endangered North Atlantic right whales, as required by federal law).
• Protect your gear and avoid entanglement: Don't cast or troll near or around humpback whales or bubble clouds. If a bubble cloud appears while you’re fishing, pull up your gear, if possible.
• Slow down: In areas where you suspect whales will be present, slowing to 10 knots helps to prevent collisions by allowing both you and the whale time to react.

Humpbacks create bubble clouds to corral their prey and then lunge through the center to swallow the small fish. Fishermen or boaters in these bubble patches run the risk of colliding with a massive 80,000-pound humpback whale as it rapidly approaches the surface. When a whale collides with a vessel, it can be gravely injured and die from its injuries. Collisions with whales have also thrown boaters from vessels, causing injuries and even death.

In addition to the potential risk of a collision, the close proximity of a boat may cause a whale to stop feeding. All whales in U.S. waters are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes it illegal for people to harm, injure, kill, chase, or harass whales or any other marine mammal. Harassment includes any activity that results in changes to the whales’ natural behaviors, such as feeding. Violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act can result in fines up to $35,000 and up to one year in prison.

Get more information on safe boating near whales.