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? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Geo. Bergeron wrote: (In response to Keith's post:) > > As there were only 5 or 6 seals in this group > >I don't think they were in any danger of trampling themselves. [snip] Had lots of unavoidable interactions with seals up here, and I agree with Keith. I have surely NEVER intentionally paddled up on a haulout (even one with only a few seals), but have often rounded a corner only to come on a handful ashore, both in the Columbia River, and on the West Coast of BC. Stuff happens. > >You say that kayaks may be more > >disturbing to wildlife than motorized craft. I differ with you there. [snip] I disagree with Keith, and agree with Craig Olson -- who says yaks *may* be more upsetting to marine mammals than motorized craft. FWIW, there is lots of documentation supporting the greater impact on BIRDS from a human silhouette than from an automobile (even a slowly moving one). I suspect there is no "one" answer, and that the situation and animal has more to do with it than anything else. (Now this is George:) > 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 ACTIONS do you not get? Whooaaa! Chill, George! Seems clear Keith and company "stumbled" on the seals, and did not "pursue" the whales -- the whales "stumbled" on Keith and party. Lotta gray areas here. I bet the next time Keith returns to that spot, he will be aware of the haulout area and pursue a different route -- he seems like a reasonable guy. FWIW, nobody up here gets ticketed for actions like Keith describes -- only folks who are obviously intent on marine mammal harassment. Big time tolerance policy, I think. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR high priest of the "be reasonable to marine mammals" religion *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Geo. Bergeron wrote: > > > 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? > It sounded to me as if he understands the act fully. He did not seek out the seals, and did not stick around when he stumbled upon them. Although he deliberately went to an area where he believed whales would be, he did not try to approach them when they appeared. The only caution I have on this is that seals ARE more afraid of kayaks than they are of motorboats. This has been documented. (see http://www.qed.com/ack/ack/1994/april_94.htm#seals1) But again, he did not stick around to "harass" them. Just being out on the water makes some contact unavoidable, which is why the act states that it is ok to allow the animal to approach you. Mike -- The only substitute for good manners is fast reflexes. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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