EXCLUSIVE: ‘We can’t just walk into their home and sit at their table’: Calls for more education after friends film themselves swimming with whales in the Strait of Gibraltar

Conservationists say that more education is required to prevent people from disturbing whales. This comes after an outraged video of three friends jumping off a boat in order to swim with a group of whales in the Strait of Gibraltar.

Janek Andre, the CEO of conservation group WeWhale, told the Olive Press the stunt highlighted a ‘huge gap’ in environmental awareness.

“These are social animals and they should be respected the same as we respect other people’s homes,” he said. 

We can’t just go into their house and sit down at their table. “It is not acceptable to jump into the ocean and disturb them.”

READ MOREWATCH: Friends on a leisure cruise dive into the water and swim with a pod of Whales as they pass through the Strait of Gibraltar

He said: “Swimming in the ocean with whales is illegal under law. 

“What is missing is education – people need to learn how these animals live, how they behave and feel, and how we can actually adapt to them and coexist.”

The footage, posted on TikTok by an account named nato and captioned ‘swimming with whales in the Strait of Gibraltar’, shows the men leaping into the water just metres from pilot whales, with the mountains of Morocco in the background.

The video triggered a wave of angry reactions online, with many pointing out that such encounters are forbidden under Spanish law and warning that fines can reach €60,000.

READ MORE Two killer whales attack two boats within minutes of the coast of Spain 

Last month in Tenerife, seven tourists who were caught on camera swimming with pilot whales inside a marine reserve protected by the Guardia Civil were formally denounced. 

They told officers they were unaware of the ban, but still face fines of more than €60,000.

It is against the law to swim or dive near whales and dolphins. 

Boats are required to remain at least 600 metres away from calves, or even 300 metres. Breaches can result in fines ranging from €6,000 to €300,000.

The Strait of Gibraltar is home to resident pilot whales all year round. It was designated a marine protected corridor in 2018. These waters are also a migration route for orcas, fin whales, and sperm whales.

The authorities have not confirmed if the Guardia Civil’s environmental unit SEPRONA is investigating the swimmers from Gibraltar.

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