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Ship captains in the Strait of Gibraltar equip their vessels with sharp rudders to injure any killer whales that might approach their ships.
The extreme measure was taken after a series of encounters with critically endangered Iberian killer whales in recent years left several vessels damaged or even sunk.
Some members of the group made a habit of attacking the rudders of ships to disable them, and those who did so were known as “Gladys”.
But just this weekend, conservation group Sea Shepherd filmed a French vessel dry-docked at the Barwater docks installing blades on its rudders “to injure approaching killer whales.”
read more: Crew rescued after killer whale sinks UK-registered yacht off Spanish coast
Despite notifying local maritime authorities, the vessel returned to sea.
There have been concerns that sailors may take violent reprisals against these creatures, which could seriously threaten the existence of the biota.
Killer whales are considered an endangered species and are protected under Spanish and EU law, making it illegal to harm them.
Penalties for such actions include heavy fines and possible jail time, depending on the severity of the harm caused and the circumstances of the incident.
However, Sea Shepherd said sharpened rudders fall into a “grey area” for such equipment.
The group added: “Our legal team is currently dealing with a complaint regarding ‘attempted destruction of a protected species’.”
The organization also stressed that killer whales are not aggressive towards humans and that interactions with humans in the channel would never lead to attacks.
“As shown in several videos we recently filmed, our boat was surrounded by 15 killer whales, and these majestic creatures showed no signs of aggression.
“Large, curious, playful cetaceans…if they cause harm it’s more due to their size and power than any desire to hurt anyone.
“As a reminder, no human has ever been harmed by a killer whale in the wild.”
Last week, a whale sank another yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar.
Under the command of the British flag, Good man William, The ship, which sailed from Gibraltar, was taken to Barbate Island by a sea rescue vessel.
The crew reported by radio to the Tarifa Maritime Rescue Coordination Center that their rescue boat had been struck by multiple whales about two miles from Camarinal Point, rendering the rescue boat inoperable.
In early July, the Kerba was attacked by five giant whales and had to be towed to Ceuta.
In May, a yacht named the Alboran Cognac was attacked and sunk about 14 miles off Cape Spartel, Tangier.
An oil tanker heading to Gibraltar collided with a whale, causing damage to the ship’s rudder and oil leakage. The ship was drifting and two crew members were rescued.
Also that month, the sailboats Malaika and Galaxia were damaged by whale attacks and had to be towed to Bawat Island.
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