Re: [Paddlewise] day trip report

Hi Craig,

I guess my attempt at a prosaic trip report was not quite as clear as it might have
been.  The rock we paddled by near Brooks Island was not in restricted waters.  The
seals were as much a surprise to us as we were to them.  There was no way to transport
ourselves instantly to a "safe" distance.  As there were only 5 or 6 seals in this group
I don't think they were in any danger of trampling themselves.

"Get in a whale or two" does indeed mean that marine life excites us.  It is also
consistent with respecting and protecting them.  You say that kayaks may be more
disturbing to wildlife than motorized craft.  I differ with you there.  It almost sounds
like you are against whale watching from a kayak.  Personally, I think whale watching
ought to be *restricted* to kayaks only.  To suggest the whales didn't know we were
there is to sell them a little short.  They knew where we were and they are the ones
that chose to surface and blow near us as they did.  They honored us with their trust,
and we did not abrogate that trust.  Last year a gray whale surfaced within 50 feet of
me.  This was not an accident.  The whale was okay with being that close to me.  I'm
sure there are a lot of people on this list who have had a similar experience.

Marine life encounters are precious to us.  It is one of the reasons we paddle.  We know
the guidelines.  Come on down sometime to San Francisco and paddle with us!  Maybe we'll
catch a few whales, and you'll see why we're excited.

Keith Kaste

Craig Olson wrote:

> On April 6, 1998, Keith Kaste wrote:
>
> SNIP
> > There's a big rock just off the western shore of Brooks.  I guess we
> > came up on it pretty quietly because we took a small group of seals by
> > surprise.  Most of them slipped quietly into the water nearby.  They
> > didn't panic and neither did we.  They just watched us in silence as we
> > paddled by, much as we were watching them.  Pretty awesome to see this
> > kind of nature so close to the gizmo metro.
>
> Are you aware of the federal marine mammal protection act?  It is illegal to get
> within 100 yards of a marine mammal unless they come toward you.  the seals
> "slipping quietly into the water" may in fact have been their way of protecting
> themselves from an unknown danger.  During this process, young seals can be trampled
> or left vulnerable to attack from predators and the adult seals can be drained of
> vital energy better used for rest and recuperation.
>
> > The next day was the first day of daylight savings.  Ugh.  Hard to get
> > out of bed.  But the sky was blue!  A quick look at the satellite photo
> > and we were convinced we could get in a whale or two today.
>
> "get in a whale or two" indicates to me that you may be thinking of the marine life
> as a tourist attraction - something to entertain and excite you - rather than
> something to be respected and protected.
>
> 'Sorry if this sounds heavy handed.  It's just that I've seen so many
> well-intentioned paddlers disrupt the essential activities of marine mammals and
> other marine life by getting too close.  The idea that we're not really disruptive
> because we are human-powered, silent craft with good intentions doesn't really
> matter to those we encounter afloat.  Kayaks can be more disturbing to wildlife than
> motorized craft because our silent approach can be misinterpreted as the stealth of
> a hunter.  Please respect the lives of those who share the waters with us!
>
> Craig Olson
> Bellingham, Washington



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