Washington Administrative Code
Title 220 - Fish and Wildlife, Department of
WILDLIFE
Chapter 220-460 - Commercial whale watching and paddle tours
Section 220-460-130 - Nonmotorized paddle tour vessels
Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 220-460-130
Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
(1) Tours involving any nonmotorized watercraft used for the purposes of paddle tours, such as kayaks, are subject to these requirements. Such watercraft constitute paddle tour vessels and are referred to as "vessels" in this chapter. Regardless of the type of nonmotorized watercraft involved, the person operating on behalf of the business to conduct the tour is referred to as a " paddle guide" in this chapter.
(2) Paddle guides must prevent all vessels in their tour group from disturbing southern resident killer whales. All vessels in the tour group must adhere to the following requirements:
(a) It is unlawful
to launch if southern resident killer whales are within one-half nautical mile
of the launch location.
(b) Vessels
are prohibited from being paddled, positioned, or waiting in the path of a
southern resident killer whale. If a southern resident killer whale is moving
towards a vessel, the vessel must immediately be moved out of the path of the
whale.
(c) If a vessel or vessels
inadvertently encounter a southern resident killer whale, they must immediately
be moved as close to shore as possible and secured, or be rafted up close to
shore or in a kelp bed, and paddling shall cease until any and all killer
whales have moved to at least 400 yards away from the vessels. Rafting up is
defined as manually holding vessels close together, maintaining a tight
grouping.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Washington may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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