The Cruising Association (CA) and GTOA partnered to launch a new online orca reporting form in early June 2022, to investigate orcas interacting with vessels along the Iberian Peninsula, and the reports received are now published online.
The phenomenon of orcas often damaging small yachts and other vessels along the south and west coasts of Spain and Portugal is linked with the migration of tuna exiting the Mediterranean from the Strait of Gibraltar and heading West and North around the Iberian Peninsula, primarily between the months of June and October.
Gathering evidence of interactions and uneventful passages
To collect evidence of interactions and uneventful passages, investigate patterns of behaviour and improve further the advice to vessels transiting the Iberian Peninsula, the CA and GTOA launched their data gathering project, inviting reports from across the boating community.
The online reporting platform was launched on 7 June 2022 and the CA is pleased to now publish the data received on the specifics of the orca interaction or uneventful passage. Interaction reports are displayed by location map pin, with the uneventful passages in list format. The data submitted includes factors such as date/route of passage, sea state/wind speed, boat speed, day/night, cloud cover, distance off land, sea depth, hull/antifoul colour, type of rudder. The reports also share the skipper’s comments on specific precautions taken and information on the experience if there was an interaction.
The CA and GTOA investigations aim to establish if environment, weather and other specific vessel factors have any measurable impact on the likelihood of an orca interaction or uneventful passage.
"To maximise the effectiveness of the online reporting project, the Cruising Association encourages skippers of sail and motor boats to submit reports right through until the tuna migration season ends around October," commented Derek Lumb, President of the Cruising Association. "Once we have received sufficient reports, the aim is to compare and present a statistical summary of data received from interactions against the same data set reported by boats on passage through the affected area without an interaction. The CA will publish all reports received in order to share information with the entire boating community."
Share your experiences and view reports
The online reporting forms are available in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish, at www.theca.org.uk/orcas.
The published reports can be viewed at www.theca.org.uk/orcas/reports.
24 June 2022
About the Cruising Association (CA)
Founded in 1908 specifically to meet the needs of cruising sailors, the Cruising Association has been a home to many of the great names in sailing. It is a non-profit mutually supportive association and is acknowledged as the leading organisation for sail and motor cruisers, with over 6,400 members around the world.
The CA provides services, information, help and advice to sailors worldwide using a variety of communication platforms including its website, CAptain's Mate app, forums, rallies, seminars and events, newsletters and the in-house quarterly magazine Cruising.
Well-known names associated with the CA include HRH The Princess Royal and the CA's Patron, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. Supporters also include Tom Cunliffe, Mike Golding, Jeanne Socrates and Don Street, amongst others.
About Groupo Trabajo Orca Atlantica (Atlantic Orca Working Group – GTOA)
A group of Spanish and Portuguese marine scientists formed the GTOA to study the new behaviour. GTOA is actively looking at the conservation and management of an endangered subpopulation of killer whales in the Iberian Peninsula.
The GTOA website - www.orcaiberica.org - provides details of the location of interactions on a month-by-month basis and gives advice on how to respond in the event of an interaction.