Windsurfers Harassing Whales at Crissy?

jse · Joined: 17 Apr 1995 Posts: 1460 Location: Maui

While I tend to agree with the consensus, I do feel that lurking around whales and taking selfies to post on youtube is somewhat like the tourists I used to see in Yosemite positioning their spouse in between them an a bear, clapping their hands and yelling to get them to look up for a photo. (Maybe there was a reason for that, hmmm...)

Just observe and move on.

Steve

Riptide · Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 411

Good day,

I'm reaching out to your organization to help ensure a safe experience on the water for boardsports and boating enthusiasts, and for the whales that are currently feeding in San Francisco Bay and nearshore coastal waters.

NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary is concerned about recent incidents that may threaten some our wildlife that are entering San Francisco Bay and adjacent waters.

The local population of humpback whales usually feed in our marine sanctuary waters just beyond the Golden Gate. However, as you may know from the intensive media coverage this phenomenon generated this year and in 2016, the whales are now regularly following anchovies into the narrow bay entrance and the bay itself.

Over the past several weeks there have been a number of documented whale-strikes by small craft and boarders entering areas where these whales are known to be feeding. These are wild animals weighing nearly 80,000 lbs. but are still vulnerable. While here, they are focused heavily on foraging before their lengthy fall migration and several months' fast. Their swimming and surfacing patterns are completely unpredictable. This places anyone who enters the 300-foot perimeter that NOAA recommends in a dangerous position; the whales are in danger, too. If a whale becomes startled or veers suddenly, people can be seriously injured, and anyone near them, or trying to rescue them, could be struck. The whale itself could be lacerated and injured by keel, board or hull impacts, or entangled in lines, or forced into the path of a ship.

Earlier this week a seasoned whale rescuer on the east coast died when a young whale, panicked and trying to escape, struck him with its fluke. We don't want to see that tragedy happen ever again. As a member of NOAA's Large Whale Disentanglement Network, I know that rescue operations never permit actual entry into the water; so it would appear he may have been on a small boat at the time.

NOAA Fisheries is responsible for protecting marine mammals, and I am attaching their "Don't Give Chase - Give Whales Space" flyer. Please share this with your membership and others in the water sport community. A mention of what to do if you have a whale encounter would be a useful addition to a website Q&A page and any other outreach your association provides.

I hope you'll join us in promoting a saner, safer and more environmentally responsible approach to recreation around all forms of marine wildlife. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Mary Jane Schramm
GFNMS Media/Public Outreach

rigatoni · Joined: 25 Feb 1999 Posts: 498

zzzzzzzz.........

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

Yep, and that's why we need Greenpeace, Sierra Club, and all those earth health orgainizations, besides lots of Park Ranger's, Coast Guard, and Harbor Patrols.

rigatoni · Joined: 25 Feb 1999 Posts: 498

More rules, patrols, do gooders, and most importantly people who claim moral and intellectual superiority. How much time and energy went into this missive (including the nice graphic) to tell us all to stay 100 yards away from whales who are unpredictable? What about all the close calls with other wildlife including seals, birds, and fish I've had at Crissy over the last couple of decades.

Be careful with this train of thought as it will ultimately lead to self righteous people calling for a ban on water sports during whale migration season. While we are at it, why not a ban on all commercial traffic or at the very least demand that they stay 100 yards away from the whales.

Be smart. Be thoughtful. Try to stay away from the whales as well as the moral outrage.

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

Isn't that akin to playing both sides against the middle?

fxop · Joined: 13 Jun 1998 Posts: 202

Given that Crissy is essentially a giant stadium with lots of eyes, shouldn't at least the downwind guys give way if they see a pod? The typical guy on a 90L B&J board can't do too much if he's upwind, but the downwind guys could make an obvious effort. In the video nobody even tried, and the downwind guys even seemed to slow down to take in the view, all understandable, but looks bad when the whales are "surrounded" briefly.

fxop