Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
Scientists are working to minimize the impact of sailboats on the ORCA season, which is returning in the Strait of Gibraltar. Skippers have been increasingly angry about the situation.
Barbate in Cadiz has launched a new campaign to protect and track the endangered Iberian Orcas after it was confirmed that the first pods had arrived at the Strait.
CIRCE Conservation Group has demonstrated how they use cameras equipped with suction cups that can be attached to killer whales in a harmless manner without having to get too close.
READ MORE EXCLUSIVE: Yachtie warns ‘I kill an orca with a tear in my eye’ if dangerous ‘interactions’ in the Strait of Gibraltar are not tackled this summer
Known as ‘catcams’, the ambitious monitoring operation combines them with satellite tracking to better understand the behaviour of these curious creatures — especially the ones known for approaching sailing boats.
The campaign is a part of a larger effort to reduce collisions between orcas, vessels and the Strait.
These interactions have sparked international headlines in recent years — with orcas damaging rudders and even sinking small yachts with sailors helpless.
Researchers from CIRCE say that they now know the importance of keeping the boat moving.
Stopping allows orcas to have more time before they push the rudder. This increases the risk of serious injury.
READ MORE Exclusive: Endangered sperm whales are dying in the Strait of Gibraltar – as experts reveal ‘biggest culprit’
The team has so far tracked 42 orcas in three main family groups. Total, about 90 have been identified in the last decade.
Three fundamental objectives of the campaign are: to reduce encounters between vessels with orcas; minimise impact in encounters that do occur; and modify orca behavior through specific techniques.
READ MORE WATCH: Vessels in the Strait of Gibraltar are being fitted with sharpened blades to the rudders to ward off critically-endangered orcas
Two research vessels, including Elsa their main boat, will be deployed along with land-based observation to assess the viability and effectiveness of coastal monitoring that could alert sailboats about orca presence.
New safe navigation routes have already been mapped, based on predictive models and past tracking data — and appear to be working.
Orca interactions dropped by 70% last year, with just two reported so far in 2025 according to CIRCE, while the Cruising Association put the figure at eight – and none since February.
Olive Press is aware of anecdotal evidence that one catamaran has been damaged in the last 4 weeks by orca strikes.
READ MORE ‘Gladys’ strikes again: Spanish coastguard launch rescue mission after orcas smash hole in side of yacht in Gibraltar Strait
CIRCE will host talks in marinas and sailing clubs around the Strait, to provide advice to skippers.
Orcas can also be spotted from the coast and alerted in real time to nearby vessels.
The Olive Press reported that captains and skipper were becoming increasingly angry at the lack progress in dealing with the orca strike.
If solutions aren’t found, they have warned that this summer the first orca may be killed.
Yassine darkaoui is a Tangier-based sailor and owner of a repair business. He told The Olive Press in the past 12 months that he fixed three separate rudders after orca encounters.
“I meet a lot of sailors and many of them tell me they are prepared to shoot these motherf***ers if they come and try to harm their boats or even endanger their families,” said Darkaoui, who has had to shelve plans to open a sailing centre in Tangier because of the orcas.
“Some guys spent their life savings on their boat. For them, it’s their home and their company.”
When you see these beautiful monsters attacking you, you will be tempted to shoot them.
The people think they can teach animals to be quiet by killing them. This is not my preferred solution.
“But it is just a matter of time – and not much time. The summer is here, the tuna migrates soon and the orcas will be returning.
“But I can tell you that if I kill a orca, it will be with a tear on my eye.”
The Iberian orca is a protected species, and the maximum punishment under Spanish law for harming – or killing one – is two years in prison.
The orcas can be sensitive to loud noises, and sailors have been known to toss firecrackers overboard.
