Re: [Paddlewise] Whales (long)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Melissa Reese" <melissa_at_bonnyweeboaty.net>
To: <PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2000 6:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Whales (long)

>My body is very tired and sore after a day of chasing motor boats!

You must use a wing paddle!!


Seriously thanks for you answer.  I checked out the local (New Zealand)
regulations which summarises as:

Minimum vessel approaching whales of 50 metres
Minimum of 100 metres if swimming
Moving away if mammals are showing signs of distress

Oddly there is no minimum distance for dolphins and seals! They are exempt
from the 50 metre rule.  Most probably for the tourist trade dollar (swim
with the dolphins etc).

The reason I initially asked about approaching sea mammals is that I kayaked
around my first fur seals a couple of weeks ago.  They were sunbathing at
the time until I got within  75 metres (to take a photo). One climbed down
of the rocks and swam out in front of us.  Every 20 metres or so it would
roll on its side and lift a flipper in the air and wait.  Since it was
swimming away from us, we got the message that it was trying to lead us away
from the rest of the seals.

Since this happened in a harbour surrounded by NZ's largest city, I would
think the poor blighter does this trick often.  Obviously our regulations
aren't nearly strict enough.  Also, there is no notices at ramps or any
publicity. Thus my ignorance.

Cheers Grant



***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************