#marinebiolgist #whales #shorts
A marine biologist reacts to a video of a large, baleen whale swimming under a man in a glass boat. It's hard to be 100% sure from the video, but it looks like a humpback whale or maybe a gray whale. Hopefully, the man wasn't intentionally getting this close to the whale but at least he displayed the proper level of fear. Whales are exceptionally powerful and flipping this boat would take nothing but a slight flick of the fluke.

Recently, I offered my explanation for why orcas are attacking and sinking boats off the coast of Spain and Portugal.    • Why Are Orcas Sinking Ships? A Marine...  

Whales like the one seen in the video are under the protection of the MMPA, or the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Intentionally getting this close to a whale is illegal. In order to prevent violating the MMPA, and protect the whales themselves, it is always best to follow the NOAA's guidelines and their recommended distances:

Admiring whales from a distance is the safest and most responsible way to view them in their natural habitat. They are wild, unpredictable animals that can move surprisingly fast. Approaching them too closely endangers you and the whales, and may violate federal law. When boating, stay at least 100 yards away from whales (the length of a football field). Federal law requires vessels to remain 100 yards away from humpback whales in Hawaii and Alaska waters, 200 yards from killer whales in Washington State inland waters, and 500 yards away from North Atlantic right whales anywhere in U.S. waters. Never pursue or follow marine wildlife—any vessel movement should be from the recommended distance and slightly parallel to or from the rear of the animal. If you need to move around marine wildlife, do so from behind. Never approach head-on.

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