Why Are Orcas Attacking Boats?

Recently I have been reading articles and news about Orcas attacking boats and causing quite a bit of anxiety.  Since these whales hunt in packs, I would imagine seeing a group of them ramming your boat and trying to eat the sides of it would cause you some significant concern.  I can't think of anything that would scare me more if I were alone out on open water and these whales started attacking my boat. 

Orcas are known for their high intelligence, complex societies, and generally non-aggressive nature towards humans. Orcas are recognizable by their black-and-white patterned body. A cosmopolitan species, orcas are found in diverse marine environments, from Arctic to Antarctic regions to tropical seas.

There has been a surge in reports of orcas, also known as killer whales, exhibiting aggressive behaviors towards boats. These creatures of the deep, typically known for their intelligence and complex social structures, are now being observed in a different light. We are going to look into the possible reasons behind these disturbing incidents and what it means for both the orcas and the humans venturing out into their territory.

Recent Orca Attacks:

Off the coast of Spain and Portugal, sailors have reported orcas ramming into their boats, causing damage and fear. These encounters have ranged from curious nudges to more aggressive behaviors, leaving the sailing community and scientists puzzled and concerned. 

1. A group of orcas managed to sink a yacht off the coast of Morocco last week, after its 45-minute attack on the vessel caused irreparable damage, a Polish tour company said. The incident happened Tuesday, Oct. 31, as a crew with the boat touring group sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar. 
2. Three orcas (Orcinus orca), also known as killer whales, struck a yacht on the night of May 4 in the Strait of Gibraltar, off the coast of Spain, and pierced the rudder. "There were two smaller and one larger orca," skipper Werner Schaufelberger told the German publication Yacht. "The little ones shook the rudder at the back while the big one repeatedly backed up and rammed the ship with full force from the side." 
3. Two days earlier,  a pod of six orcas assailed another sailboat navigating the strait. Greg Blackburn, who was aboard the vessel, looked on as a mother orca appeared to teach her calf how to charge into the rudder. "It was definitely some form of education, teaching going on," Blackburn told 9news.
4. On June 19 an orca rammed a 7-ton yacht multiple times off the Shetland Islands in Scotland, according to an account from retired Dutch physicist Dr. Wim Rutten in the Guardian.

Possible Reasons for the Attacks: 

So far, the main theory presented as to why these animals have started ramming boats is this: a female Orca was hit by a boat and injured grievously by the rotors of the engine.  This Orca, upon her recovery, became fixated on boats and began attacking them as she saw them as threats to her.

Since Orcas live in pods and are extremely intelligent, scientist believe that other Orcas simply began copying her actions, thinking there was a reason to be attacking these boats. 

It has developed so far now that young Orcas inherently know to attack a boat as a threat to them and the pod without being taught to do so by parental whales.

This seems to be the accepted theory for now and I guess it could be correct.  I would be mad at a boat too if I was innocently injured by one.  Seems possible.

Orcas Behavior's Effect on Boating:

Sailors and the boating community are naturally concerned by this turn of events. There has been so much fear around these attacks and there is quite an economic cost from the attacks.  Sailors are trading ideas with other sailors on ways and means to prevent an attack.  One such idea was to play loud "heavy metal" music underwater to confuse the animals; but all it did was make it easy for them to find the boats.

Ongoing Research into Orca Behaviors:

Up to this day, the research continues.  Orca's are at the top of the food chain, so this is not a situation of being afraid (except for that one female).  There has been significant fishing in the attack areas, causing a depletion of potential food for them but they can travel large distances to hunt, so that isn't really an issue for them. This behavior has scientists and boaters stymied for now. I am sure there will be continued research and investigating into these activities until some resolution is discovered.

We should support marine conservation efforts and to stay informed about safe boating practices in areas populated by orcas. In the meantime, you will not find me out in a boat on open water where Orcas may range.  Not on your life!