Iberian coast: Orcas more active again - already six attacks in May
Sailors in the region often rely on real-time information from the platform "orcas.pt" and the associated Telegram groups. YACHT employee Katharina Erdmann is currently sailing with her family along the Portuguese coast from the south towards Lisbon. An orca sighting was reported near Setúbal the day before they passed through.
We got the information from the Telegram groups and planned our route accordingly",
reports Erdmann in an interview with YACHT.
Abrupt increase in orca interactions in May
The jump in the statistics is significant: From January to the end of April 2026, "orcas.pt" reported only four attacks and five sightings without interaction - in other words, a total of just nine incidents in four months. In the first three weeks of May, however, a further 22 incidents were added to the seven attacks and 15 sightings. This means that the frequency has increased in one fell swoop.
Current orca activity is mainly concentrated in the region around Cabo Trafalgar in southern Spain, near the Strait of Gibraltar. However, sightings have also recently been reported off the Portuguese coast near Sines and Sesimbra, around 50 kilometres south of Lisbon. The abrupt increase in interactions in May can be explained by seasonal factors: Tuna migrations draw the orcas close to the Strait of Gibraltar during this time. There, the hunting whales encounter an increased number of holiday and sailing boats.
For Erdmann's family with children on board, this means staying alert and regularly checking the information networks for new updates.
Long-term downward trend
YACHT spoke to the operator of "orcas.pt", Rui Alves, back in February 2026. He predicted at the time: "The problem is not going away - it's more likely to increase"because young orcas would adopt the behaviour of older, attacking animals. At the same time, the actual number of cases fell in the long term thanks to better information and adapted route planning: recorded orca interactions with boats fell from 180 cases in 2022 to 128 in 2023.
The improved information situation seems to have had a calming effect: Katharina Erdmann reports that there is no alarmist mood among the crews despite the increased activity.
How skippers react correctly
But how should sailors deal with the threat of orca attacks? For platform operator Rui Alves, the right response begins even before casting off. His most important piece of advice is simple: be prepared!
Some take days for weather routing, but only invest ten minutes in orca preparation."
Monitoring the reports on the current hotspots, forward-looking route planning and a clear emergency plan with the crew are among the basics.
There are two recommendations for strategic route planning: Either stay extremely close to shore in shallow water less than 20 metres deep, because orcas rarely stay there due to their hunting tactics. Or you can choose a route far out to the west of the 10th degree of longitude in the deep ocean to avoid the risk zone completely.
If an encounter does occur, the most important rule is: don't stop, keep going. This recommendation, which orcas.pt has been making for some time, is also supported by the Spanish authorities. Those who stop only risk longer interactions and thus significantly greater damage to the ship.
The expert advises against reversing, which is recommended in some forums: "The rudder is not designed for reversing in waves," said Alves in the YACHT interview three months ago. The risk of damage to the rudder and suspension is simply too great.
Telegram groups as an early warning system
The Telegram groups used by Erdmann are available via the platform orcas.pt accessible. After registering for free, sailors can subscribe to various groups in which sightings are reported in real time. Alves advises using and comparing several sources. Among them GT Orca Atlánticathe Spanish authorities, the British Cruising Association and in Germany Trans Ocean.
Rules of behaviour for orca encounters:
Do's:
- Use the engine, drive on
- Head towards shallow water (<20m depth) OR sail west of 10°W (deep ocean)
Don'ts
- stop (gives room for increased interaction)
- Sailing in hotspots at night (rescue and towing manoeuvres on the open sea are riskier in the dark)
