OLYMPIA — On Jan. 1, boaters in Washington waters must stay 1,000 yards away from Southern Resident killer whales at all times.

The busy waters of Puget Sound pose a significant threat to this endangered population of orcas, which relies on echolocation to hunt and communicate. The new rules, passed by the state Legislature in 2023, are intended to reduce vessel noise and allow the whales to forage and rest with minimal disturbance.

“Vessel noise is one of the three key threats to the Southern Residents, along with toxic contamination, and a lack of prey,” said Dr. Julie Watson, killer whale policy lead with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). “WDFW and partners are working to address these threats, and this new 1,000-yard buffer is a major step in reducing the impacts of vessel disturbance on [Southern Resident] behavior. Boaters reducing noise by staying farther away effectively makes more prey available to [Southern Residents] by making it easier for the whales to find and catch salmon.”

The new law applies to operators of motorized vessels, as well as non-motorized vessels and paddlecraft such as kayaks and paddleboards. Under the law, all watercraft operators must:

Stay 1,000 yards away from Southern Resident orcas in all directions.

If orcas approach within 400 yards of the vessel, disengage the transmission, luff sails or stop paddling (if it is safe to do so) until the animal moves away.

One thousand yards is approximately one-half nautical mile. Boaters who think they may be closer than 1,000 yards to orcas, but not within 400 yards, should attempt to navigate out of the path and away from the whales at a speed of 7 knots or less.

WDFW enforcement officers regularly patrol Puget Sound, including specific patrols when Southern Resident orcas are present in Washington waters. WDFW Enforcement Capt. Alan Myers said officers will be primarily focused on educating people about the new regulations during the 2025 boating season.

“We recognize that there are some challenges associated with trying to predict what a group of wild animals might do, or in locations where moving 1,000 yards away could be difficult,” Myers said. “We will issue citations when necessary, especially for egregious violations or repeat offenders, but our officers will largely be focused on making sure people understand the new laws and are trying to do the right thing by giving these whales the space they need.”

In addition to the Southern Resident pods, Washington is also home to the Bigg’s, or transient killer whales, which are subject to a 200-yard buffer under federal law. Southern Residents feed almost exclusively on salmon, while transient killer whales primarily prey on marine mammals such as seals and sea lions.

“There are some physical differences between Southern Resident and transient killer whales,” Watson said. “However, seeing these differences from outside 1,000 yards may be difficult, so we’re encouraging boaters to treat all unidentified killer whales as though they’re Southern Residents and opt to stay 1,000 yards away.”

For more information about these regulations and orcas in Washington, visit the WDFW website or bewhalewise.org.

WDFW is in the initial stages of creating an ambassador program with the goal of offering ongoing education to the state’s boaters about laws and best practices for sharing the water with killer whales. Those interested in learning more or participating in this program are encouraged to sign up for the “Southern Resident Killer Whales and Regulation Updates” mailing list.