Spout Spotters: Boater Safety Around Whales
If you are a recreational boater in Atlantic waters looking to take proactive steps to ensure your safety while at sea around whales, this course is for you!
Accidental collisions with whales can be dangerous for everyone involved and result in costly repairs to your boat. In this short Spout Spotters course, you’ll learn key steps to take before heading out on the water that will help you avoid dangerous situations, get yourself out of a dangerous situation if you are suddenly in one, and take an active role in supporting conservation efforts for marine life.
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Utilize available resources to prepare for a trip at sea
- Identify commonly seen whale species along the US Atlantic coast and be familiar with their behavior
- Put safe whale watching guidelines to practice while at sea
- Keep a safe distance between your boat and whales
- Know what to document and who to call if you encounter a whale in distress
- Share what you’ve learned with other boaters
This course should take you between 30-60 minutes to complete. It can be viewed on any device, including PCs, tablets, and mobile devices. It is divided into four lessons with a short series of topics covered in each lesson. Quick assessments along the way will verify what you’ve learned so far.