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Agents investigating orca harassment by Navy
04:49 PM PDT on Thursday, September 28, 2006
SAN JUAN ISLAND, Wash. – Agents are looking into whether a Navy helicopter flew too close to a pod of orcas off San Juan Island last week.
Sandy Buckley
Whale watchers and a kayaker observed a Navy helicopter descending onto a pod of orcas in the Haro Strait.
According to The San Juan Journal, federal marine mammal protection agents are investigating reports that the helicopter hovered just 40 feet above the orcas on the west side of the island.
Whale watchers along the shoreline and a kayaker nearby said the incident happened just outside Deadman's Bay, south of Lime Kiln, at about 2 p.m. on Sept. 21. They said the aircraft lingered above the whales for at least 30 seconds, causing a lot of turbulence on the water.
They said two whales had just surfaced for air, but were forced to dive again because of the air pressure caused by the helicopter.
One whale watcher reported flashes from cameras being visible in the helicopter.
If the harassment is substantiated, the Navy could be fined $50,000.
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