Over the winter months, there were hardly any reports of interactions between orcas and sailing yachts. This could soon change. In winter, the orcas hunt in the North Atlantic, and from March they return to the Strait of Gibraltar to hunt bluefin tuna. The highest concentration is expected in July. At the same time, with rising temperatures and more moderate conditions, the density of boats in this area will increase again.
If more orcas and sailing yachts come together again, the number of interactions is likely to rise. Many skippers are apparently also assuming this and are increasingly preparing for defence. Although it is not yet clear why orcas are primarily concerned with the rudders of yachts and some researchers interpret this as a play instinct, the sailors concerned feel attacked.
More about orca interactions
Firecrackers should help
According to YACHT information, more and more tips are currently being passed on from skipper to skipper or via social networks on how to build a defence bomb. YACHT has received one such instruction. These are party or New Year's Eve firecrackers, which are available all year round in some countries or can be obtained illegally via the Internet.
They have no specific features, except that the fuse should be waxed in order to continue burning under water. However, even firecrackers that are cracked on a rough surface will continue to burn under water. To ensure that the firecrackers sink, they are weighted down, for example with a larger nut that has been secured to the firecracker body with a cable tie.
The bang is supposed to help drive the orcas away, at least that's what most of the panellists in the Facebook group agree on Orca Attack Reports agree.
The effect of firecrackers, so-called seal bombs, which fishermen use to repel seals from their nets, has also been reported by former Trans-Ocean board member Martin Birkhoff on his website reported. He experienced two short, violent orca attacks and used so-called fire crackers as a last resort after the expiration, which ended the interactions.
Can firecrackers be used against orcas?
It is not known whether the bang harms the orcas, especially their hearing. According to the UN Convention for the Protection of the High Seas, they are not a protected species. However, the convention refers to the high seas. In European waters, protection is regulated by the Habitats Directive, according to which whales and dolphins are protected, and Spain and Portugal have also passed their own laws.
What is permitted and prohibited in each case can be very roughly summarised as follows: Deliberately harming or disturbing the animals, for example when whale watching, should be avoided. Not regulated or explicitly mentioned are emergencies or even self-defence and whether orca defence by means of firecrackers or other measures constitutes an infringement.
Court judgements will probably have to be awaited. In August 2024, for example, a case was documented in which a crew fired fireworks at Oracs. The Spanish Guardia Civil began an investigation. A similar case was reported in 2023.
Why do orcas attack?
It is not even clear whether these are attacks, which is why it is repeatedly pointed out that the incidents should be labelled as interactions. The Society for the rescue of dolphins lists the following possible interpretations:
- Play instinctYoung orcas in particular may be fascinated by the moving oars of the boats and want to play with them. Marine biologist Bruno Díaz compares this behaviour to that of "immature teenage orcas", who may cause damage for fun.
- Hunting technique trainingSome observers suspect that older orcas are teaching the younger ones hunting techniques. The organisation "Wewhale" sees a connection with the traditional hunt for bluefin tuna in the Bay of Cádiz and interprets the interactions as an attempt to refine hunting techniques.
- Consequences of the pandemicBiologist María del Carmen Rodríguez speculates that the orcas may have become accustomed to calmer seas during the coronavirus lockdowns. The subsequent increase in ship traffic and noise could have stressed the animals and caused them to react.
- Negative incidentMarine biologist Eva Maria Carpinelli suspects that a single negative experience with a sailing boat could be the trigger. Due to the high social intelligence and learning ability of orcas, this experience could have led to a learned and passed-on behavioural pattern.
How high is the probability of interaction?
The first interaction between an orca and a sailing boat was documented off Cadiz in July 2020. After that, interactions increased steadily until they began to decline in 2024. Over 800 interactions were recorded in total, around 500 of them for the area in question, which can be viewed monthly on the dedicated page Orca Ibérica. Warning levels are also issued there for the various coastal areas of Spain and Portugal.
According to a study, it is estimated that the orcas touch around one in every hundred boats travelling through Iberian waters. So far, three yachts have been sunk. According to the Orca Iberica website, most of the attacks were on sailing yachts (72%), followed by catamarans (14%), motorboats (6%), inflatable boats (5%) and fishing boats (3%). The concentration is also likely to roughly correspond to the proportion of the respective boat type in this area. In the case of sailing and motor boats with a rudder, the most common type of rudder was the paddle rudder (67 %).
The distribution of interactions by boat size revealed the following picture: sailing yachts were attacked between 6.5 and 35 metres in length, with an average of 13.07 metres. Motorboats were between 6 and 12 metres long (average 8.23 metres). The average speed of all boats was 5.7 knots.
Avoid orca interactions
There are various ways of trying to avoid interaction with orcas. Here we provide both the official Spanish behavioural advice and tips that have obviously proved successful:
- Satellite monitoring and mapping: Six orcas have been fitted with microchips to track their movements. This is used to create daily maps to help sailors avoid areas with high orca activity. Click here for the maps.
- Behavioural guidelines: The Spanish authorities have changed their recommendations. Instead of keeping still, yachts should now lower their sails, start the engine and head for shallow water as quickly as possible if they encounter an orca.
- Whale PAL: Studies have shown that an acoustic device called a whale PAL measurably reduces the risk of orca attacks. When using the Whale PAL, 85 per cent of the boats escaped undamaged during an interaction, compared to only 50 per cent without the device. It also appears to increase the likelihood of not coming into contact with orcas in the first place.
- Temporary driving bans: In the past, the Spanish government has temporarily banned sailing boats under 15 metres in length from certain stretches of coastline.
- Coastal navigation: The Spanish government is currently advising sailors to navigate in the coastal area and to sail away as quickly as possible in the event of an encounter with orcas.
- Acoustic deterrent devices: New acoustic deterrent devices are being tested in Portugal.
- Data collection: The British Cruising Association is asking sailors to help collect data by completing questionnaires, even during uneventful voyages.
