Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, what distance should kayaks maintain from whales when observing?

• A. Stay within 100 yards for a closer view
• B. No approach closer than 500 yards
• C. No approach closer than 2,000 yards
• D. Approach to within 10 yards

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that you must give whales plenty of space to avoid disturbing them or triggering stressful behavior. The Marine Mammal Protection Act makes harassment illegal, and keeping a generous distance helps ensure your presence doesn’t disrupt the whale’s natural activities.

Keeping at least 500 yards away creates a comfortable buffer for the whale to swim, feed, and travel without the noise, wake, or sudden movements of a vessel influencing its behavior. For kayaks, this distance minimizes the risk of collision or startling the animal and makes it easier to observe without altering its course.

If a whale seems to be heading toward you or begins to show signs of alertness, you should slow down and back away slowly while staying on the animal’s parallel path, ensuring you don’t cut in front of its direction of travel.

Choices offering closer distances, like 100 yards or 10 yards, or an extreme distance like 2,000 yards, either don’t provide enough protection for the animal or are unnecessarily restrictive for typical viewing. The 500-yard guideline balances safety for both the whale and the observer.