Boaters' antics put Luna at Risk

Marina owner says boaters' antics put Luna at risk

Times Colonist

Saturday, July 30, 2005

A favourite haunt for Luna during the last couple of weeks has been Critter Cove Marina, where he has bashed docks and banged boats.

But owner Cameron Forbes is more annoyed with irresponsible boaters than the whale and fears for the orca's safety.

"You've got people scrubbing his belly with a brush and feeding him for a photo op and then calling for help when he starts banging up their boat," he said. "People want to take pictures and then they want him to get out of the way because they want to go fishing."

Forbes is also perplexed about who he's supposed to call when Luna comes to visit. Although a fisheries officer has tried to help, the coast guard has made it clear it's not interested unless someone is in danger, he said.

"I think DFO is waiting for Luna to force their hand," said Forbes, who supports the proposal by authors Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisholm for a marine-based scientific team to interact with the whale on a controlled basis.

"Let's have someone who cares about him out there. Rather than wait for the inevitable, which is him being shot or killed or put in an aquarium, let's embrace him," Forbes said.

Whale organizations and scientists are divided about the interaction proposal, although most contacted by the Times-Colonist believe it is worth a try.

Ken Balcomb, senior scientist with the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor said the proposal sounds good and he hopes DFO will consider it.

Howard Garrett, president of Orca Network on Whidby Island said the proposal "is absolutely on the right track." It would be beneficial to have a few people working on getting the whale's attention and keeping him company, Garrett said.

"There's no harm in that and it could avoid a great deal of harm," said Garrett, adding interaction will not prevent the orca from wanting to rejoin his pod.

"You can't talk about an orca the way you talk about a bear or even a primate such as a chimpanzee or a gorilla because they are so cultural. They are so enmeshed in their culture they never forget their family."

Scientist Paul Spong of OrcaLab on Hanson Island, near Alert Bay, said intentionally interacting with Luna is not a good idea, but added, "On the other hand, the situation does seem to be becoming worse