What is the legal distance to approach right whales?

• A. 500-yard approach limit by law
• B. Avoid sudden moves, keep steady course
• C. Provide habitat near coast
• D. Protected, avoid disturbing nests

Answer: (A)

Keep at least 500 yards away from right whales. This is a legal buffer in U.S. waters designed to protect these endangered animals from harassment, distress, and the risk of collision with vessels. Right whales are highly sensitive to disturbance, and even small approaches can disrupt feeding or cause them to move away from important activities. When paddling and you spot a right whale, slow your pace and steer to maintain a clear distance, choosing a path that keeps you outside the 500-yard zone. If you can’t pass safely without closing that distance, wait or reroute until the whale leaves the area.

The other options describe good general safety or wildlife-avoidance practices, but they do not specify the required legal distance or apply specifically to right whales in this regulatory context.