San Juan Island Kayak Association
Mission Statement for the San Juan Island Kayak Association
The San Juan Island Kayak Association is dedicated to the respectful observation of marine wildlife, and promotes wildlife education, conservation, area stewardship as well as outfitter ethics, social responsibility and safety. The association also promotes paddling wildlife ethics to the public kayakers who share San Juan Island waters with us.
Members of the San Juan Island Kayak Association
Wildlife Viewing Guidelines for the San Juan Island Kayak Association
As members of the San Juan Island Kayak Association (SJIKA), we adhere to and promote the below best practice guidelines for wildlife and whale interactions in our region.
1. Commercial kayak tours shall follow all local, state, and federal laws and guidelines governing behavior around killer whales and other wildlife.
2. Commercial kayak tours will not intentionally position themselves or paddle into the path of killer whales.
3. When killer whales are approaching, commercial kayak tours will make their way to the nearest shore, to avoid the potential path of killer whales.
4. When killer whales are present and at least 200 yards offshore, commercial kayak tours will operate within 100 yards of shore to avoid the potential path of killer whales.
5. When killer whales are present, commercial kayak tours will stop paddling and raft up as close to shore as possible. Commercial kayak tours will avoid headlands when deciding where to raft up, in order to avoid being in the potential path of killer whales.
6. If commercial kayak tours, while following all SJIKA guidelines find themselves within 200 yards of killer whales, they shall immediately raft up and stop paddling until the whales have passed.
7. When commercial kayak tours are stopped at public beaches, they shall not launch with the intention of placing themselves in the path or within 200 yards of killer whales. The best practice in this situation would be to view the whales from shore.
8. Commercial kayak tours shall avoid haul out areas for seals and other marine mammals whenever possible. Tours shall make wide arcs of 100 yards or greater to avoid disturbing these marine mammals.
9. Commercial kayak tours shall maintain 100 yards or greater from bird nesting sites.
10. Commercial kayak tours will stay 200 yards or greater from all wildlife refuges.
11. There are sensitive times of the year for harbor seals and nesting birds. During these times, tours will use extra caution and increase viewing distances appropriate to the animals.
12. When approaching wildlife areas, guides shall place themselves as the closest kayak to the wildlife to assure proper distances are maintained.
13. All commercial kayak tours shall educate their guests on SJIKA guidelines prior to launching.
14. SJIKA member kayak tour companies agree to visibly identify themselves as members of the SJIKA, so that they may be identified as setting a standard for wildlife viewing.
1. Commercial kayak tours shall follow all local, state, and federal laws and guidelines governing behavior around killer whales and other wildlife.
2. Commercial kayak tours will not intentionally position themselves or paddle into the path of killer whales.
3. When killer whales are approaching, commercial kayak tours will make their way to the nearest shore, to avoid the potential path of killer whales.
4. When killer whales are present and at least 200 yards offshore, commercial kayak tours will operate within 100 yards of shore to avoid the potential path of killer whales.
5. When killer whales are present, commercial kayak tours will stop paddling and raft up as close to shore as possible. Commercial kayak tours will avoid headlands when deciding where to raft up, in order to avoid being in the potential path of killer whales.
6. If commercial kayak tours, while following all SJIKA guidelines find themselves within 200 yards of killer whales, they shall immediately raft up and stop paddling until the whales have passed.
7. When commercial kayak tours are stopped at public beaches, they shall not launch with the intention of placing themselves in the path or within 200 yards of killer whales. The best practice in this situation would be to view the whales from shore.
8. Commercial kayak tours shall avoid haul out areas for seals and other marine mammals whenever possible. Tours shall make wide arcs of 100 yards or greater to avoid disturbing these marine mammals.
9. Commercial kayak tours shall maintain 100 yards or greater from bird nesting sites.
10. Commercial kayak tours will stay 200 yards or greater from all wildlife refuges.
11. There are sensitive times of the year for harbor seals and nesting birds. During these times, tours will use extra caution and increase viewing distances appropriate to the animals.
12. When approaching wildlife areas, guides shall place themselves as the closest kayak to the wildlife to assure proper distances are maintained.
13. All commercial kayak tours shall educate their guests on SJIKA guidelines prior to launching.
14. SJIKA member kayak tour companies agree to visibly identify themselves as members of the SJIKA, so that they may be identified as setting a standard for wildlife viewing.