Your Guide to Watching Whales Responsibly
Whether you live here or just love to visit, you might agree that one of the most amazing Washington experiences is the wonder of seeing a whale in the wild.
These awe-inspiring watchable wildlife opportunities not only provide a unique glimpse into the world of marine mammals, they also can help to raise public consciousness about the marine environment whales live in.
In Northwest waters you commonly have the opportunity to view humpback, minke, gray, and killer whales (commonly called orca). There are two types of killer whales seen frequently in Washington waters: transient killer whales that hunt marine mammals, and resident killer whales that eat salmon. Offshore killer whales that eat sharks are rarely spotted far off the Washington coast.
We encourage those interested in whale watching to do so in the most responsible ways possible. We want to keep the whales, especially the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population, as well as those viewing them, safe and healthy.
Why Southern Resident killer whales are special
Among killer whales that are found in Northwest waters, there is a special population of orca — called Southern Resident killer whales — that makes their home along the coast from California to British Columbia. The population currently sits at just 74 individuals.
The special Southern Resident population faces several challenges: a lack of food, contaminants in their water and food, and vessel noise and disturbance as they try to hunt and communicate using echolocation. While WDFW and an array of partners are taking steps to support recovery of these endangered Southern Resident pods, it’s going to take all of us doing our part to give these whales the best chance at survival.
View the whales from shore
Shore-based viewing sites offer one way to connect with whales while minimizing possible disturbances to sensitive populations. You might consider visiting stops along The Whale Trail, with more than a hundred locations along the West Coast that offer opportunities to spot whales and other marine mammals from shore. Select waterfront Washington state parks, such as Lime Kiln Point State Park or Deception Pass State Park, offer prime viewing locations. Visit the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor to learn more about orca whales.
Join a tour
Another option is to hop aboard a professional whale watching tour. Operators offer tours year-round with ample opportunities to view humpbacks, minke whales, gray whales, and the transient population of orcas. Sea kayak tours also provide opportunities to enjoy nature and potentially view marine mammals.
Licensed commercial whale watching operators and kayak guides are working with WDFW to ensure their wildlife viewing opportunities are safe and sustainable by reducing the amount of time and boats near Southern Residents. Operators only view Southern Residents during certain viewing windows, and no more than three motorized commercial whale watching vessels may approach a group of Southern Residents within one-half nautical mile at one time.
Prompted by the Legislature through Senate Bill 5577, the Washington Fish and Wildlife adopted these rules in Dec. 2020 following input from WDFW’s Commercial Whale Watching Licensing Program Advisory Committee as well as an intergovernmental coordination group and an independent science panel. In addition to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process, the rules were also informed by reports summarizing the science and analyzing economic impacts on small businesses. The Commission also considered input from more than 4,000 commenters before adopting the final rules.
Licensed commercial whale watching operators also communicate with WDFW Enforcement and relevant authorities to convey concerns about whales and impacts from other boats. Commercial operators report Southern Resident killer whale sightings to the WhaleReport app, which the public can report sightings to as well.
If you see a whale from land or at sea, report your sighting to Whale Report. Sightings are shared with large vessels like cargo ships, tankers and ferries so they can slow down or take other measures to prevent ship strikes (collisions). Sightings are also shared with WDFW Enforcement.
Reporting your sightings to Whale Report is the fastest and most reliable way to ensure that large vessel operators and WDFW Enforcement are aware of whales’ presence. The more that people use Whale Report, the better protected the whales will be. Download from the App Store or Google Play.
Identifying killer whale ecotypes
Whale watching from shore or on a tour can also help you brush up on your wildlife identification skills. With Washington home to multiple populations of killer whales across the Coast, Puget Sound, and Salish Sea, it can be tricky to tell the difference between the different types of killer whales, which differ in physical features, diet, and even geographic range. Learn more in our graphic, above, about some of the differences between Southern Resident killer whales and transient Bigg’s killer whales.
Recreational boaters asked to Be Whale Wise
While watching whales from shore or with a commercial whale watching company are the most responsible options, recreational boaters can also take steps to protect whales by following Be Whale Wise regulations.
Specific to southern residents, recreational boaters must stay out of their path at least 400 yards in front or behind them and must stay at least 300 yards away on either side. Learn more at bewhalewise.org.
Recreational boaters are also encouraged to watch for the Whale Warning Flag, an available tool from the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee, that lets others know that there might be whales nearby. If you see the flag, slow down and follow guidelines.
Boats must always stay 200 meters from transient killer whales, refrain from parking your boat in a whale’s path within Washington state inland waters, and stay 100 meters from all other marine mammals. Remember, if you aren’t sure whether an orca is a Southern Resident or a transient, or if you aren’t able to accurately assess distances on the water, it is better to stay farther away and give the whales plenty of space.
Thank you for taking steps to participate in responsible wildlife watching.
For more information about the Department’s work to support orca recovery, visit us online at wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/at-risk/species-recovery/orca.
