Boating Around Killer Whales
Boaters need to be aware when boating around killer whales. Always slow down, keep 200 meters away, stop fishing and turn off your 50 kHz frequency echo sounders and only use your 200 kHz frequency.
Most recently, American and Canadian governments have been working together to protect the depleting number of Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW). These whales use echolocation to locate and hunt for prey and electronic or sonar noise at the 50 kHz frequency can seriously interfere with their communication. Sounders that use a 200 kHz frequency do not overlap with SRKW hearing and tend to be used, by boaters, in shallower waters to ensure safe navigation.