In the early spring, female humpbacks and their newborn calves rest in the islands of the Caribbean chain. They stop here and there to frolic and to teach their children the arts and sciences of being a whale. The shallow, protected waters around many of the islands give them an easy environment to jump and play as the youngsters gather strength and skills for the journey north to Maine and elsewhere.
There are some protocols to keep in mind when approaching these beautiful creatures.
- stay at least 100 yards away from the whale.
- put the vessel’s engine in neutral.
- never chase or pursue the whale in your boat or in a dinghy.
- don’t jump in the water and try swimming with them.
- let them control the duration of the encounter.
The British Virgin Islands Department of Conservation and Fisheries advises persons encountering whales: “When the whales swim away, the encounter is finished. Let it go. Count yourself fortunate to have witnessed this majestic creature in action.”
Wherever you are in the Caribbean, anytime you meet a whale take a note of the time and position and, whenever practical, notify the local Conservation and Fisheries authorities. At the very least, stop by a dive shop or if you see a whale watching boat on the water, hail them and let them know of your sighting.
There are many more species than the Humpback floating in Caribbean waters–Right, Minke, Sei, and Bryde’s whales have been reported, though some species only by audio recording of songs and whistles indicative of their type. The one definite inhabitant is the mighty Sperm whale which lives year round in the waters off Dominica.
So, be careful when sailing since a whale is a very solid object and can damage your vessel–not to mention the harm you might cause it, should you make contact.
According to the International Whaling Commission (IWC), over the past 60 years there have been 81 reported collisions and 42 near misses of whales and sailing vessels. Most of these reports are from more recent years–a function of the greater numbers of voyaging yachts and their increased speed capabilities. And these are only the reported instances. Some encounters are never mentioned since the whale is never seen–at night or in difficult weather conditions.
UK racing-oriented publication, Seahorse Magazine covered the topic recently. It’s worth reading if you have ambitions to sail in waters you might have to share with pods of whales.