> From: Michael Kundu <ProjectSeaWolf_at_seanet.com> > >Appropriate subject to discuss, since May is the pupping season for seals. > Regular approaches by kayaks or boats encourages skittish nursing mothers > to abndon a haulout site, and their pups on some occassions. A good point to remember. Also, stay very far away (forget the 100 yard rule... leave the area) when all seals are out of the water during pupping season. There could be a very good reason that none are in the water :-) (see http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/mchin.html) If the 100 yard rule doesn't convince paddlers to stay clear, this should :-) > >This is my main subject of interest, and many of the paddling mags have > run some of my articles on the matter (August 1994 Canoe & Kayak). Gotta > say that the arguments that kayaks are more likely to scare whales is well > documented -- an analogy: you're walking down the sidewalk and cars > routinely pass you from behind. You don't usually flinch, but if a > bicyclist suddenly passes you from behind, you're more likely to jump. hmmm... so the solution would be to crowd the coastal areas with kayaks and get the whales used to the kayaks? :-) I saw another report suggesting that grey whales have changed their migratory route along the California coast (the majority, anyhow) to travel west of Catalina island thereby avoiding the San Diego and LA coastal areas. This rerouting is suspected to be caused by the increased power boating and jet skiing traffic. Whales are as irritated by all the noise as we kayakers :-) > >Same thing about kayaks (bicycles) vs boats (cars) and whales. Motors > telegraph presence and location, kayaks tend to sneak up on them since they > have little acoustic or vibrating signal. While I believe kayaks are less > intrusive than powerboats, I do think paddlers need to understand the > potential impacts of their crafts on cetacea. I agree. I think Keith did, too. His statement was that powerboats were more intrusive and by rafting up and watching with Megan rather than chasing down the wildlife, I believe he showed respect and restraint. I think he followed the rules as well as being sensitive with regard to his impact. Cheers, Jackie \ / | \ / \ | / __ ___ / __( ( )_ _( )___ \ | / _( ( ) __ _( )__ _( _( ) ______ ( ) ( ( )_ ( ( )__ __( ( ) _________ _( ______( ) _( ( ) (___ _ ___) ( ) / | (_______ ( _ _ ) | \ (_____ __ _(_ _ _ ) / | \ _ _ / \O/ \ _ " ,,~'""""""""``v' \-'""""""""``~, / _, \_ \ / ,~~~~~~~~'"" ) \""`~~~~""') / | / '' ' ' / \ ~ ' ' `' `'' ' '' / \ '' ' ' ~ ~~~~ ~ ''' ~~ ~ '~~ ' / \ ' ~~ '' ~~~ ~~~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~ ~ %_at_~%_at_% ~%~ ' %%_at_%/ ` _at_% Y_at_ '' ' ~ ~~ ~ ~%%~~~%%_at_~_at_%%%~ ~%~ ~~)) )_at_%)~%(~%%jf_at_ (%~~%%_at__at_%%~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~_at_ ~%%~~ ~ ~~ %% %~ ~%~_at__at_%%_at__at__at_~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~ ~~ ~ ~ sss _n ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~ S( )S ( ) ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ___ /{|||}{|||}\ ___ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~ (___>=====_at_V{____}{____}V_at_=====<___) ~~ ~~~ ~ ( ^ )( ^ ) ~~~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ ~ ~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~ ~~ ~ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Apr 08 1998 - 17:06:29 PDT
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