Re: [Paddlewise] day trip report

From: Geo. Bergeron <heritage_at_europa.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 15:17:18 -0700 (PDT)
At 02:49 PM 4/8/98 -0700, you wrote:
>Hi Craig,
>
 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.

        Federal regulations were enacted to prevent people who "don't think
they [e.g. protected species] were in any danger" from endangering those
protected species. Kayaks don't look threatening to humans, but do you
really think a whale or seal knows the difference between a kayak and a
torpedo? kayak and a whaling boat? 

        If you want to be "consistent with respecting and protecting them"
you need to realize that ANY human contact is a potential threat to
protected species. What part of the APPLICATION OF THE FEDERAL PROTECTION
LAW TO YOUR ACTONS do you not get? 

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Received on Wed Apr 08 1998 - 15:17:35 PDT

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