Orca Encounters Continue off Spanish Coast

A pod of orcas rendered a sailboat inoperable recently off the coast of Cádiz, Spain, resulting the vessel being towed to port by the Marine Rescue Unit. This brings the number of incidents between killer whales and boats to 69, according to reports.

At least 30 boats have had their rudders damaged and needed to be towed in. The incidents between orcas and sailboats less than 50’ (15 m) are unprecedented in the area, but one biologist has theorized that they are the result of the mammals training for hunting tuna that are plentiful in the area.

Interesting Theory

Jose Carlos Garcia-Gomez, a professor of marine biology at the Sevilla University has been researching the cetaceans in the Strait and the Bay of Algeciras and came up with the theory after a meeting of the maritime authorities of Cádiz.

Saying it wanted to avoid risk situations like incapacitated boats being adrift in the area, the Maritime Captaincy of Cádiz prohibited the passage of sailboats shorter than 50’ (15 m) in the area until September 7.

Garcia-Gomez explained that orcas are “peaceful animals” that would not attack humans. He added that the mammals are “extremely sociable and motivated by curiosity.” Another researcher said the incidents weren’t attacks. Instead, he said the orcas are playing a game with the boats.