Guidelines

Personal watercraft (including Jet Ski) Must not move closer than 300 metres to a whale if there are already two vessels within the 300 metre zone or if the whale is:

• A calf
• Stranded
• Entangled or Incapacitated
• Showing Signs of Disturbance OR
• Appears Sick or Injured

Personal watercraft (including Jet Ski) Must not move closer than 150 metres to any other marine mammal (dolphins, seals etc) if there are already two vessels within 150 metres of the marine mammal or the marine mammal is:

• A calf or pup
• Stranded
• Entangled or Incapacitated
• Showing Signs of Disturbance OR
• Appears Sick or Injured

Within the Encounter Bay Restricted Area, all vessels must maintain a minimum distance of 300 metres from a whale. Vessels outside of the Restricted Area must not move a vessel closer than 100 metres from a whale and must not move a vessel closer than 50 metres from any other marine mammal (dolphins, seals etc).

Vessels in all waters must get no closer than 300m to a whale with a calf, or a whale showing signs of disturbance.

Vessels in all waters must get no closer than 150m to any other marine mammal with offspring, or showing signs of disturbance. 

If a vessel unexpectedly finds itself in breach of the minimum distance(s) they must; 

a) Move away from the mammal at a slow “no-wake” speed of less than 4 knots.

or

b) In the event that the mammal is too close to safely move away, a vessel may cut it’s motor and wait until it is safe to do so.

A vessel may not drop anchor, and may not wait longer than a 60 minute time frame within breach of the minimum distance.

A vessel is not permitted to follow a whale, or position itself in front of an approaching whale.