For the third successive year, Orca have been sighted in the Ria de Arousa, on Spain’s NW coast, feeding on octopus. While a wonderful sight to behold, (along with blue, pilot and fin whales), the Orca are also continuing to interact with yachts and damaging rudders. Sailors are being advised to stay in port.
Published 1 month ago, updated 4 weeks ago
Having spoken with Salvamento Maritimo de Finisterre, who are responsible for the Vilagarcia/Ria de Arousa area, their advice for yachts in the area is to follow all the recommended guidelines around orca, but to continue movement as normal. There are no sailing bans in place or port closures.
Listen out on VHF Channel 16 at all times for announcements re. the location and activity of orca in the area, as the situation is continually changing.
Centro de Coordinación de Salvamento de Finisterre
Tel.: 981 767 500
The last reported interaction with a yacht was on 1 September in the Ria de Arousa.
For the third successive year, Orca have been sighted in the Ria de Arousa, on Spain’s NW coast, along with blue, pilot and fin whales.
La Voz de Galicia report that over a period of 3 weeks in August, 15 sailboats were hit by Orca in the Ria.
Research carried out by the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI) has been shared online:
Why do orcas enter the Galician Rías?
Orcas enter the rías to feed on octopus, rather than seeking tuna as previously assumed. The comparison with the behavior of cephalopod-feeding cetaceans, such as Risso’s dolphins, led to a hypothesis that was fully confirmed on Saturday August 23rd when we (BDRI) visually documented orcas surfacing with octopus in their mouths prior to ingestion. Last Saturday, our team observed for several hours as a group of seven orcas (one adult male, several females, juveniles, and a very young calf) displayed a behavioural pattern characteristic of benthic foraging: series of long, vertical dives; individuals or pairs working in formation; heading changes; controlled ascents; and brief surface ventilation pauses—hallmarks of bottom-feeding behaviour. This finding explains the repeated entry of orcas into the Ría de Arousa over the last three years and aligns with historical testimonies from Ribeira fishermen describing similar incursions in centuries past. Beyond their main offshore prey (tuna), orcas capitalize on coastal foraging opportunities linked to the high availability of octopus during specific periods, such as late summer in the Rías Baixas.
Unfortunately, the orca are not only interested in octopus. Several yachts sailing in the Ria were “tussled” by orca during the last week and some had to be towed ashore for repair work on rudders.
Read more at: Las orcas golpearon a cinco veleros este sábado en Arousa y llegaron hasta Vilagarcía
The local authorities do transmit on channel 16, warning yachts of the location of orca in the Galicia region, but are now advising yachts to remain in port until the pods have departed.
Read more at Noonsite’s Orca and Yachts page.
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Related to the following Cruising Resources: Orcas and Yachts
