The Boat Geeks #36 - Julie Watson, Killer Whale Policy Lead at the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, discusses the new 2025 regulations for boats in the vicinity of resident orcas.
Recorded on location at the 2025 Seattle Boat Show, The Boat Geeks talk with old friends, meet new ones, and learn more about the wide world of recreational boating.
This episode: As of January 1, 2025, boaters in Washington's Puget Sound and the Salish Sea must stay 1,000 yards away from the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale population. Julie explains the new regulations and why they are necessary, and shares tools boaters can use to determine their distance from whales.
Brought to you by the Boater's Guide, a free mobile app for PNW boaters. Available on iOS and Android devices, The Boater's Guide is information and adventure right at your fingertips, right when you need it. Download for free in the App Store or Google Play: https://www.pnwboatersguide.com
Washington Dept. Fish & Wildlife (WDFW): https://wdfw.wa.gov/orca
WDFW Boater's Tool Kit: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/at-risk/species-recovery/orca/regulations#boater-toolkit
WDFW Ambassador Program sign-up: https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/lists
Ocean Wise Whale Reporting: https://ocean.org/whales/whales/ocean-wise-sightings-network/
The Seattle Boat Show is produced by the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA): https://nmta.net/
Be sure to like and subscribe, and tell your boating friends! Keep up with The Boat Geeks: @theboatgeeks.com
Recorded on location at the 2025 Seattle Boat Show, The Boat Geeks talk with old friends, meet new ones, and learn more about the wide world of recreational boating.
This episode: As of January 1, 2025, boaters in Washington's Puget Sound and the Salish Sea must stay 1,000 yards away from the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale population. Julie explains the new regulations and why they are necessary, and shares tools boaters can use to determine their distance from whales.
Brought to you by the Boater's Guide, a free mobile app for PNW boaters. Available on iOS and Android devices, The Boater's Guide is information and adventure right at your fingertips, right when you need it. Download for free in the App Store or Google Play: https://www.pnwboatersguide.com
Washington Dept. Fish & Wildlife (WDFW): https://wdfw.wa.gov/orca
WDFW Boater's Tool Kit: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/at-risk/species-recovery/orca/regulations#boater-toolkit
WDFW Ambassador Program sign-up: https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/lists
Ocean Wise Whale Reporting: https://ocean.org/whales/whales/ocean-wise-sightings-network/
The Seattle Boat Show is produced by the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA): https://nmta.net/
Be sure to like and subscribe, and tell your boating friends! Keep up with The Boat Geeks: @theboatgeeks.com