Orcas around the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula

Since 2020 there has been a pattern of behaviour within a population of orcas that feeds on and follows the migration of tuna exiting the Mediterranean from the Strait of Gibraltar and heading West and North around the Iberian Peninsula over a period of several months.

This behaviour has seen juvenile orcas interact with vessels (mostly sailboats) that are transiting this coastline, in many instances causing damage to rudders. Orca encounters are now a common risk for yachts making passage in the waters off the western Iberian peninsula.

Many yachts don’t come across Orcas and a great number sight the whales, but have an incident-free encounter. However there are instances where interactions have appeared “threatening”, with a growing number of yachts suffering severe rudder damage.

Up until July 2022, interactions were limited to just damage; the orcas’ ‘playing’ with rudders of sailing boats essentially left them stranded, but otherwise intact. The worst that happened was a wait for rescue, and then an expensive repair bill.

But that changed in July 2022 when a family’s boat sank after a late-night ‘interaction’ off Sines in the south of Portugal, followed by a second sinking off Viana do Castelo in the north of Portugal at the start of November 2022. Six yachts have been sunk to date, with the most recent on July 2024 in the Straits of Gibraltar.

The reason for this recent and repetitive behavior towards small vessels is still not fully understood, however, after several years of increased interactions between orca and yachts, scientists now have some theories as why this is happening. Interesting articles with alternative views from scientists include:

• When Orcas Speak (Sarat Colling – November 2023)
• Why are orcas suddently ramming boats? (BBC – June 2023)
• Is playing with yachts just “in vogue” for orcas? (NPR – August 2022)
• Orcas have sunk 3 boats in Europe and appear to be teaching others to do the same. But why? (Live Science – May 2023)
• Orcas Sailboat Attacks: Aveiro Scientist Offers Explanation (Portugal Resident – May 2023)
• Is the Whale World Rising Up? (Guardian – May 2023)

Tools for finding the Atlantic Orcas

If you are planning a passage around the Iberian peninsula, do your research first and identify where you can get the latest location information on encounters and orca sightings. It can be confusing as more and more initiatives to track and discuss orcas in this area develop, all wanting data from yacht skippers and all offering advice etc. Below we outline the main organisations that you should consult and report to if an interaction takes place.

• Grupo de Trabajo Orca Atlántica [GTOA] have a database with more than 1000 orca sightings in this region since 2020. They were the first organisation to start collecting data about the orcas and yachts and continue with their efforts. They have an active mobile app and are definitely the first place to report an interaction or find out the latest activities. Find out more at https://www.orcaiberica.org/.
• In 2022 The Cruising Association established a collaborative agreement with GTOA and began asking yachts to report sightings and interactions. Go to https://www.theca.org.uk/orcas/interaction-report-form. Their advice and conclusions can be found at www.theca.org.uk/orcas/. This project is on-going and relies on feedback from as many skippers as possible making this passage, whether they encounter orcas or not. There is a great deal of detail here and very interesting reading. A map shows you a history of incidents with all the feedback reported, there is a section on extracts from these reports as comments filed under what measures were taken by skippers when encountering orcas, plus a recommended safety protocol and current guidance.

• In May 2023, the CA updated its ‘orca information and reporting’ portal reflecting the research and analysis the CA had conducted since June 2022. The CA’s killer whale project team has analyzed over 300 reports of interaction and passage without incident received in 2022 and some patterns have emerged which are shared on the portal. All CA interaction and sighting records are listed on the GTOA GT Orcas app.
• In January 2023, the autonomous authority of Galicia launched an application called Orcinus which shows the previous month’s interaction and sighting data (which then disappears). Find out more at this news report. Note, that Orcinus does not dedicate any resources to monitoring orcas (unlike GTOA) and do not collaborate with GTOA.
• Circe [https://circe.info/orcinus/] monitor the population of orca in the Gulf of Cadiz.
• Orcas.pt [https://www.orcas.pt/] is a community-driven group that report and discuss. They have two Telegram conversation groups for yachts transiting this coast. One of the groups is for sharing the location of orcas only, and the other is a discussion group to exchange experiences and mitigation actions to avoid an incident. There are over 1000 members and the groups are very active. Go to Orcas @ Portugal & Spain to sign up. They also have a Facebook Page and a You Tube Channel with interesting discussions about the Iberian orcas. Again, Orcas.pt does not dedicate any resources to monitoring orcas (unlike GTOA) and do not collaborate with GTOA.
• There is alot of useful information and feedback on the Orca attack Facebook group: Orca Attack Reports.

How to Navigate “Orca Alley”

If preparing for a transit around/along the Iberian Peninsula where orca are active, use these guidelines published by Noonsite in collaboration with the CA and learn how you can use your experience to help those following in your wake.

• Read Part 1: Passage Planning Tips (January 2024)
• Read part 2: FAQs Prior to Departure (February 2024)
• Read part 3: What to do at sea should you encounter orcas (March 2024)
• Read Part 4. Analysis of orca locations (April 2024)

Other useful articles/webinars/links to help prepare include:

• How to Avoid Killer Whales Interaction Poster (above) – produced by the Spanish Government.
• The Spanish Maritime Transport webpage has orca recommendations
• Orcas.pt – Talking about orcas with Renaud de Stephanis of Circe (March 2024)
• Orca Encounters on boats: What you need to know (Practical Boat Owner January 2024)
• Dealing with Orca “Attacks” and How to Navigate “Orca Alley” (Yachting Monthly September 2023)
• Useful recording of CA webinar Orca and Yachts: Fact, Fiction and Fear (May 2023)

A growing number of yachting organisations are publishing advice for yachts, alongside recommendations from orca working groups. This can all be found in the useful resources on this page, as well as news of reported encounters with yachts and orca-related reports.

Avoiding the Orcas

The Cruising Association note that the majority of interactions have occurred in a water depth greater than 40 metres and the CA data at www.theca.org.uk/orcas/reports (comparative data tab) highlights the increased risk posed by traveling in deeper water. Their advice to avoid interactions is to stay less than two miles off shore and navigate in less than 20 metres of water.

In the southern Spain (Barbate) area, where incidents occur frequently, it is possible to pass through the area in, or near to, the 20m depth contour. However wind, sea state and tides need to be considered with regard to the possibility of being disabled near to shore or shallows and the huge tuna nets need to be avoided (it is understood to be possible to pass inside the net at the Barbate harbour entrance.)

Orcas.pt recommend the safest route towards Gibraltar is going to Cadiz and following the coast along the 20-meter depth contour until Gibraltar.

The Spanish Government (see poster previously) recommend avoiding sailing in this area from April to August if possible.

It’s also useful to review the CA Orca Project collated library of skippers’ comments on deterrent measures – www.theca.org.uk/orcas/interaction-deterrent-library

In Spain and Portugal, current legislation does not allow the use of acoustic devices to deter orcas. Since 2022 GTOA have been collaborating with the working group launched by the Portuguese government in which an acoustic proposal proposed by GenusWave has been selected, which is being prepared for tests at sea, experimentally but not on yachts. It is hoped this may be available for the 2024 season. See more information here.