The above vessel that fired on the orca has been caught in Ibiza and fined 5000€, but they were allowed to keep the assault rifle due to it being an Israeli-flagged vessel and the fact that the incident took place in Moroccan waters. (How do they get a fine for shooting at orca in Moroccan waters but not have the gun impounded in Spanish waters? Don’t ask!).
The courage that ignorance gives you is supreme. In early August I did an MY engine sea trial out of Sotogrande, 12 miles inside the Med and considered safe. As we came out of the harbour and opened up the engines a bit, I could see on the port side a pod of dolphin and on the starboard side out to sea I could just see a pod of orca. Up ahead a group of young guys were throwing their wakeboards in the water in readiness for some fun. Oh, what
fun to be chased by orca! The dolphin cleared off!
I do not believe the current wisdom of ‘playing dead’ is a valid strategy. I have heard yachtsmen talk of using the engine and spinning propeller to chase away the orca. I have seen on some of the videos presented to me orca with bleeding wounds along their spines and fins. I believe these are ‘prop wounds’ were getting too close to the props has cost them a chunk of flesh. I believe that motoring astern at pace with the prop leading and the rudder moving from side to side will put the orca off. They are not stupid and are not likely to risk serious mutilation!
The small, local fishing boats all around here that run in out out daily have told me that they have never been bothered by orca and they are competing with the orca for the same food!
112 | ISSUE 106 | DEC 2023 | THE REPORT
And this may be the point. The height of the orca season coincides with the Almadraba – the completely illegal tuna harvests every spring using nets strung out from the shore which take everything in the sea - tuna, orca, dolphin, turtle, pelagic fish, sharks and, oh yes, small coastal fish and bottom fish as well. The sea runs red in March and April at the height of the slaughter! No kidding, it’s true. Like the dolphin slaughter in Japan or the seal harvest in Greenland, it is senseless and barbaric! Perhaps the orcas think so too and are telling us to lay off! To leave some for them and their kids!
I have bought a pinger and I deploy it if approached by orca on one of my many sailing sea trials in the area. They don’t seem to bother with motor vessels – perhaps that’s the propellers again. The pinger cost just over 200€ with tax and shipping included. And a new rudder costs...?
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