A day after a humpback whale breached and landed on a small boat off Plymouth, state environmental officers are urging boaters, kayakers and paddle boarders to “use extreme caution” within the space.
Three juvenile humpback whales have been on a feeding frenzy off Plymouth in current weeks, as they comply with faculties of fish to the favored boating and recreation vacation spot.
The whales close to boats in Plymouth has led to some shut encounters with people, together with Sunday’s viral breach onto a 19-foot boat.
“The Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Department of Fish and Games’ Division of Marine Fisheries are advising all mariners operating vessels or personal watercrafts, such as kayaks and paddle boards, to use extreme caution near Plymouth,” Massachusetts Environmental Police wrote on Monday.
“These young whales are engaged in physically active feeding behavior that is very unpredictable, while feeding in a shallow area on menhaden (or ‘pogies’), a rich and highly abundant schooling forage fish that also attracts striped bass,” police added. “This creates a safety hazard for both whales and humans.”
There had been no reported accidents after the humpback whale landed on the boat. Also, there was no main harm to the vessel.
A whale colliding with a ship or private watercraft may cause harm to the vessel, bodily damage to the whale, and potential severe damage or loss of life to the people.
“The shallow water and presence of encroaching vessels, along with the young age of the animals, may increase the unpredictability of their behavior,” police stated.
It’s unlawful to harass marine mammals underneath the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. Harassment consists of any act of pursuit, torment or annoyance that may injure or disrupt the feeding habits of the animal.
The National Marine Fisheries Service recommends that boaters keep no less than 100 ft away from whales and take a precautionary method, given the whales’ unpredictable habits and the potential security hazards. Boaters ought to keep clear of sunshine inexperienced bubble patches from humpback whales. These are subsurface bubbles earlier than whales lunge to feed on the floor.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”