Orca

The latest orca interaction has been reported with two young orca apparently ramming a 40ft sailboat, damaging the yacht off the coast of Bigouden, northern France.

The interaction was reported on 16 July off the Brittany coast in France. Coastguards had to tow the sailing yacht back to the port of Guilvinec after the two young orcas damaged the boat’s rudder.

According to local newspaper, Le Télégramme, the couple onboard the sail boat were towed back to safety.

GT Orca Atlantica collates monthly interaction maps detailing orca incidents in Europe.

According to GT Orca Atlantica, in 2020, a new behaviour, called disruptive, was observed when some juveniles started to interact mainly with sailboats. It was reported that orcas touched, pushed and even turned the vessels, which in some cases resulted with damage in rudders. These incidents have increased with nearly 700 physical interactions between orcas and boats now recorded since July 2020 along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Europe and North Africa. 

In May 2024, scientists shared new theories as to the reasons behind the orca’s play and interactions.

The post Orca ram sail boat off Brittany coast appeared first on Marine Industry News.