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A SAILOR is threatening to kill an orca this summer if lasting solutions are not found to the dangerous ‘interactions’ in the Strait of Gibraltar that have been crippling vessels.
Sailors in the area are becoming increasingly angry as they feel their livelihoods may be threatened by a pod orcas that targets yachts and catamaran boats.
The warning follows a five-year whale attack spree that has resulted in hundreds of ships being damaged and seven sinking.
Orcas have caused the Strait to be too dangerous for catamarans and yachts to navigate during the summer months, according a number of captains.
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Yassine Darkaoui, a sailor who runs a repair shop in Tangier, has warned he is prepared to kill a whale ‘to teach them a lesson’ if nothing is done.
The Moroccan told Olive Press In the last year, he repaired the rudders for three separate boats that were attacked orcas. He expects plenty of business in the coming season.
“I meet a lot of sailors who tell me they are prepared to shoot these motherf***ers if they try to harm their boats or endanger their families,” said Darkaoui.
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These guys often invest their entire life savings into their boat. When you see these guys being attacked by the beautiful monsters it may lead to you shooting them.
The people think they can teach animals to be quiet by killing them. This is not my preferred solution.
The sailor, who had to shelve plans to open a sailing centre in Tangier because of the attacks, continued: “But it is just a matter of time – and not much time.
Orcas are returning, summer is approaching, the tuna migrates soon. We might need to kill them all to teach them a message.
He added: “But I’ll kill an orca with a tear.”
The Iberian orca is a highly protected species. Anyone who harms an orca in Spain could be sentenced to two years imprisonment.
The interactions which have taken place in the Strait since 2020 are attributed to around a half dozen of the forty whales.
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Also, they have targeted yachts near the coast of Galicia.
In 2023 the German-flagged sailboat Meu was rammed near Cape Touriñán when the 16-metre yacht came across a pod of orcas.
The boat’s rudder was damaged and a leak developed in the vessel as a result. The crew of five contacted the Spanish Lifesaving Service. Salvamento MaritimoThe company arranged for the tow of the boat to a nearby port.
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Various attempts have been made following the spate of attacks in Gibraltar to keep them away, including throwing overboard firecrackers as orcas are acoustically receptive to loud noises.
Darkaoui told Olive Press He wants more research done on a sonic weapon that can be used to reliably keep them at bay.
He said, “Something where, when you turn on the light, they stay about 500 metres or a km away.”
Some sections of the marine biology community have reacted coolly to plans to test an acoustic repellent later this year.
Janek Andre is a marine conservationist WeWhale fears that such an implement could ‘damage their hearing, which is highly sensitive.’
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He said that the animals’ hearing could be damaged and they may even become lost. Olive Press.
“Imagine if all sailboats have this device assembled – then the orcas are going to have to leave the geographical area – their home – because it’s not that big.”
Conservationists and marine biologists alike have been at pains to insist that these interactions are not ‘attacks’ nor signs of aggression, but merely a playful hunting practice.
Skippers are advised to stay near the coast and avoid the middle of the Strait while staying in constant communication.
WeWhale The company also offers to accompany boats on regular trips from Tarifa to Tangier. This summer, they will open a hotline where skippers can call for the last known location.
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According to data collected by The, the good news is that the number of reported incidents was down from its peak in 2023 when it reached 186 interactions. Cruising Association (CA), which points out the effectiveness and efficiency of these solutions.
John Burbeck, CA’s lead, told reporters: “These orca are protected like tigers and we need to find ways to coexist.” Olive Press.
Orca encounters should be treated as you would a stormy day or a man overboard. These are serious risks for which crews should prepare.
But many skippers have described these measures as ‘unworkable’ and instead are calling for a more robust solution – one which allows them to continue their livelihoods.
Even if they’re in your path, you might not be able avoid them because these creatures move fast, said another sailor. Olive Press.
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They can travel from one side to the other of the Strait in just two or three hours. It may seem that staying on the coast is the most cost-effective option, but there are costs involved.
“Journeys are much slower and there are dangers near the coast such as tunanets and sudden swells which can push you into the rocks.
You can’t blame the captains for wanting to fight orcas. “Anyone would defend his house if he was attacked.
“You could wait for two or three month to get a new rudder.” This is three months lost revenue, and you cannot claim this on your insurance.
Ultimately, the orcas are ‘hurting the yachting and sailing industry in the Strait’, which is an economic cost that has been adding up for several seasons.
“People are scared to go sailing. This summer, there will be a collision.
