Notice to Boaters in Nootka Sound Area

When in the vicinity of Anderson Point please maintain your speed and course, and do not stop your vessel.  If a lone young killer whale approaches your vessel, please move away and accelerate out of the vicinity of the whale. Do not attempt to interact with this whale under any circumstances.

A lone male killer whale, identified as a juvenile southern resident named L98 or Luna, has been residing, since the summer of 2001, in Nootka Sound (see map).

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is concerned about harm to L98 and possibly boaters due to inappropriate human behaviour around this wild whale and the whale’s unnatural affinity for boats. Under the Federal Fisheries Act, Marine Mammal Regulations, it is illegal to disturb a marine mammal.

Continued interactions with boats will jeopardize L98’s chances of being reunited with his pod.  Close human interactions with wild marine mammals can affect their ability to cope and live in their natural habitat. The best thing people can do for L98 is leave him alone and let him be a wild whale.