Reponsible Whale Watch Guidelines
Whale Watching Guidelines apply to all large whales except the North Atlantic right whale. It is illegal to approach a North Atlantic right whale within 500 yards unless granted specific exemption or authorization. For more information click here.
NO INTENTIONAL APPROACH WITHIN 100 FEET
- Do not approach within 100 feet of whales. If whales approach within 100 feet of your vessel, put engines in neutral and do not re-engage propulsion until whales are observed clear of harm's way from your vessel
- PARALLEL the course and speed of moving whales up to the designated speed limit within that distance.
- NEVER attempt a head-on approach to whales.
- Approach and leave stationary whales at no more than idle or "no wake" speed, do not exceed 7 knots.
- NEVER intentionally drift down on whales.
- Maintain communication. Vessels in multi-vessel approaches should communicate with each other (via VHF channels 9, 13, or 16 for hailing) to coordinate viewing.
- Take into account the presence of obstacles (vessels, structures, fishing gear, or the shoreline). All vessels in close approach must stay to the side or behind the whales so they NEVER box in the whales or cut off their paths.
300 Feet to 600 Feet Away:
- Two vessel limit within the 300-foot to 600-foot Stand-By Zone at any one time
- Reduce speed to 7 knots
- AVOID head-on approach
- Reduce speed to 10 knots
- Reduce speed to 13 knots
- Post a dedicated lookout to assist the vessel operator in monitoring the location of all marine mammals
- AVOID sudden changes in speed and direction
- Aircraft should maintain a minimum altitude of 1,000 ft over water.
- All vessels should leave the whales following the same speed and distance procedures described above
- In order for vessels to be clear of whales before dark, vessels should cease whale watching and begin their return to port 15 minutes before sunset
- When in sight of whales (or at 2 miles away from where whales are known to be), drop sails and engage propulsion system
- Adhere to the speed & distance guidelines recommended above
- Vessels should remain 150 ft away from dolphins, porpoise, and seals
- NEVER attempt to feed dolphins, porpoise, or seals. THIS IS ILLEGAL.
Hotline Numbers:
- To Report Live Right Whale Sightings call: 978-585-8473
- To Report Stranded, Dead, Struck or Injured Whales call: 978-281-9351
- To Report Whales Entangled in Fishing Gear, call the US Coast Guard on VHF 16 or call the Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Network: 800-900-3622
- If possible, please stand by an entangled whale until a response vessel arrives. If you must depart, please document your sighting with photos or video and report the time, location, and whale’s direction of travel when you left the scene.
Other Marine Mammal Protection Links:
