Killer whale attacked sailboat in the North Sea – news Nordland

It is the British newspaper The Guardian that writes about the killer whale attack on a sailing boat in the North Sea. The 72-year-old Dutchman Wim Rutten was on his way to Norway when he suddenly felt a violent thump against the hull. – I exclaimed “shit”. The killer whale then disappeared, but returned at high speed and rammed into the boat two or three times, Rutten tells The Guardian. In the past, groups of killer whales have attacked and punched holes in the hulls of sailboats off the coast of Spain and Portugal. In May alone, there were at least 20 “interactions” between killer whales and boats, according to the research group Atlantic Orca Working Group (GTOA). Why are they attacking? Experts have different theories as to why the killer whales, which can be almost ten meters long, behave aggressively off Portugal and Spain. It may involve violent play. But it could also be that the adults teach the younger whales that boats are dangerous and should therefore be attacked. This video shows a previous killer whale attack. The sailboat Mustique was on its way to Gibraltar when it was attacked by a group of killer whales – Even indirectly, human activities can be the origin of this behavior. Increased sea traffic, dwindling food sources, warming oceans and noise pollution can all play a role, says Conor Ryan, who is a scientific adviser at the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust to the newspaper. There are more than 3,000 kilometers between Gibraltar and the Shetland Islands. Norwegian whale researchers have never heard of killer whales attacking boats as far north as the North Sea. – I have never heard of them attacking boats in this way in our latitudes. That’s what Audun Rikardsen says, who is professor of Arctic and marine biology at UiT Norway’s Arctic University in Tromsø. Whale researcher Audun Rikardsen after a successful tagging of killer whales. Researchers at UiT and the Institute of Marine Research are investigating whether unpleasant noise can keep orcas at a distance. – The trials are very promising so far, says Rikardsen. Photo: Fredrik Broms He says that in theory it could be the same animals that were outside Spain and Portugal, which have now moved further north. – We know that these animals can move very quickly over large areas. I have satellite-tagged around 50 killer whales myself. They can move very quickly and over very large areas. Orcas are highly intelligent, social and emotional animals, with strong family ties. Most likely, this concerns a family group, according to Rikardsen. – They are dynamic and can split up into smaller groups and then gather again. It may be that they have learned this in the family, split up and do this to other boats. – Not necessarily “revenge” Several experts have pointed to a “revenge motive” – ​​that the whales attack because they have had bad experiences, which have made them hostile towards boats. It is common in Norwegian waters for killer whales to be attracted to fishing boats fishing for herring and mackerel, but then to get a “free meal” and not to damage the boats. However, fishing gear and the whales themselves can be damaged. Photo: Audun Rikardsen / Arctic University of Norway – I cannot rule out that it may have started with animals that have had bad experiences. But I think that this is more about a form of play or training. Several of these families often specialize in taking marine mammals, such as seals and larger whales, says Audun Rikardsen. A sailboat is confusingly similar to a whale on the underside; it is long and thin. – In addition, they can have dark bottom lubrication and white sides. A bit like several whales that have a dark and light side, and that the long thin rudder can look like a tail fin or crank. When killer whales attack larger whales, it is often the fins that they bite into. – Even though the whales are aware that this is not a whale, they may see the resemblance and think that this could be a form of training. But that is just a theory, adds Rikardsen. See no cause for concern The researchers in GTOA fear both for the safety of humans and killer whales if the attacks continue. Rikardsen does not think there is any reason for immediate concern, even if this type of event occurs in our latitudes. – We must first see if there will be more such attacks. Then you can start discussing measures. What is important is that it is reported. And that photos are taken of the fins and the animals to document whether they are the same animals that were seen outside France and Portugal. Rikardsen himself is involved in a project where the researchers are testing different types of annoying noise to keep killer whales away from fishing boats. – Such sound systems can eventually be used to scare killer whales away from pleasure boats as well. – Bring a long steel rod If Rikardsen himself were to sail in an area at risk of such attacks, he would take a long steel rod and a steel hammer as a temporary solution. – Then I would stick the rod down by the rudder and tap it hard with the hammer. I don’t know if it will work, but it wouldn’t hurt to try. In contrast to his Scottish research colleague, Rikardsen does not believe that the aggressive orca behavior towards boats has anything to do with climate. – When it comes to this type of behaviour, it has nothing to do with the climate. But that climate in the larger context can have an indirect effect on orcas and whales, it probably can. Whales are where there is food, so if a warmer climate causes food to move further north, it will also have the effect on whales that they move further north, says Audun Rikardsen at UiT. Killer whales that stay along the coast of northern Norway have ample access to food, and are not known to attack boats. Photo: Espen Bergersen / Bergersen Nature Gallery



ttn-69