Following numerous recent reports of interaction between orcas and yachts an exclusion zone for yachts smaller than 15 metres has been declared for the sea area off Barbate.
Following numerous recent reports of interaction between orcas and yachts an exclusion zone for yachts smaller than 15 metres has been declared for the sea area off Barbate.
Further details are available on the Iberian orca website at https://www.orcaiberica.org/mitigationactions.
The text below is an unofficial translation of the Spanish original :
Marina Mercante limits the navigation of sailboats up to 15 m in length between Cape Trafalgar and Barbate to avoid incidents with the Orcas.
The Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma), through the Maritime Captaincy of Cadiz, under the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine (DGMM), has issued a resolution restricting navigation to sailing vessels equal to or less than 15 meters in length between Cape Trafalgar and Barbate, in an extension of approximately 2 and 9 miles from the coast.
This resolution is issued to avoid more incidents with killer whales, since, since last March 27th -the date of the first encounter-, the cetaceans have had 56 interactions with small sailboats, sometimes causing them to lose their rudder. Up to 25 cases have required the services of Maritime Rescue to tow to port as many boats affected by the encounters.
The Capitanía Marítima de Cádiz of the DGMM establishes the prohibition for sailboats of equal or inferior length to 15 meters propelled exclusively to sail or exclusively to motor or that use the two means of propulsion and also prohibits the anchorage of these boats in the bathing areas not marked out located inside the coastal zone.
They may access the exclusion zone when they want to arrive at port or an anchorage located in the coastal zone or leave it for offshore. In such cases they shall use exclusively their mechanical propulsion and, as far as possible, shall travel the minimum distance through the exclusion zone.
Sailing vessels longer than 15 meters are urged to use only mechanical propulsion within the restricted area and all other vessels are asked to refrain from cetacean watching activities.
If in any case any vessel has an unexpected encounter with killer whales, whenever it is possible and does not generate a greater danger, it is recommended to stop the engine, lower the sails, leave the rudder to the track, disconnect the sounder and prevent people on board from approaching the bands.
The coastal stations will periodically issue radio warnings to inform the navigators of the prohibitions and limitations established by the resolution of the Capitanía Marítima de Cádiz, which will initially be in force until the 20th of this month, although its extension or cancellation is not ruled out, depending on the development of events.
The second time that the DGMM issues such a resolution
This is the second time that the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine issues a resolution of these characteristics. The first one took place in September 2020 in the waters off the Galician coast and lasted for several weeks with the same objective: to ensure the maritime safety of sailors and their vessels and to protect marine biodiversity.