Remain at least 100 yards away-about the length of a football field unless other rules apply. Federal law requires vessels to remain 100 yards away from humpback whales in Hawaii and Alaska waters, 200 yards from killer whales in Washington State inland waters, and 500 yards away from North Atlantic right whales anywhere in U.S. **Do not swim with, ride, pet, touch, or attempt to interact with marine mammals or sea turtles in the wild. **Do not feed, or attempt to feed, any marine mammals. Please be familiar with the applicable rules before you visit our coastal waters -see the More Information box. Viewing guidelines and laws vary by region, state, and species. These laws help protect marine mammals and sea turtles from harm, including having their natural behaviors interrupted by human actions.īefore spending time on or near the ocean, know the guidelines and regulations for viewing these marine protected species in their habitats. Whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions are also protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. coastal waters are protected by the Endangered Species Act. Many of the most popularly viewed animals in U.S. This includes attempting to swim with, pet, touch, or elicit a reaction from the animals. We do not support, condone, approve, or authorize activities that involve closely approaching, interacting, or attempting to interact with whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, and sea turtles in the wild. We maintain as policy that interacting with wild marine life outside of permitted research should not be attempted and viewing marine mammals and sea turtles must be conducted in a manner that does not harass the animals. The Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act do not provide for permits or other authorizations to view or interact with wild marine mammals and sea turtles, except for specific listed purposes such as scientific research. These guidelines and laws can vary by state and by species, so know the rules before you visit our coastal waters. Regulations and guidelines have been developed with specific recommendations and distances for viewing whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, sea turtles, and other marine animals. Learning how to interact with and observe ocean animals can help you make the right decisions when you encounter them by water, land, or air. Viewing marine animals in their natural habitat can be an exciting experience-watching a group of dolphins leaping across the water, seeing a sea turtle nesting on a beach, or encountering a colony of seals basking in the sun. Although it can be tempting to try to get close to these marine animals, it’s always best to view them from a safe and respectful distance for their safety-and yours. NOAA urges members of the public to observe marine animals from a safe and respectful distance, and do not approach or touch them. The public is prohibited from harassing, harming, pursuing, wounding, killing, capturing, or collecting marine species protected by the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |