Killer whales 'chasing' Alaskan fishermen to steal catch
A fisherman says his crew tried to use sound machines to deter the whales, but they soon became "a dinner bell" for orcas.
Wednesday 21 June 2017 12:04, UK
Alaskan fisherman say they are being "chased out" of the Bering Sea by pods of killer whales which are stripping their lines of fish.
In a number of cases fishing captains have reported losing tens of thousands of pounds of halibut and black cod after being followed a number of miles by orcas.
One described the pods as like a "motorcycle gang" which leave little more than the lips of the fish they snatch.
While killer whales were previously an infrequent sighting for fishermen in the Bering Sea, the problem is now said to be "systemic".
"We're being chased out of the Bering Sea," fishing vessel co-owner Paul Clampitt told the National Post.
"When I started fishing in the early 80s, when we saw a whale it was an event. Now, they circle the boat."
Mr Clampitt said his crew tried to use sound machines to deter the whales, but before long the orcas got used to noise.
"It became a dinner bell," Mr Clampitt said.
Fishing boat captain Robert Hanson said he was "harassed nonstop" by orcas during a trip in April, when his crew lost 12,000 pounds of halibut and used 4,000 gallons of fuel attempting to outrun the animals.
During another expedition to an area near the Russian border, Mr Hanson said he tried to fish for two days before giving up after a pod of at least 50 whales appeared.
"The pod tracked me 30 miles north of the edge and 35 miles west (while) I drifted for 18 hours up there with no machinery running and they just sat with me," he told Alaska Dispatch News.