How to Observe Marine Mammal 

Behaviors and Minimize Your Impact

• Act with caution! Your actions should

not cause a change in the behavior of

the animals.

How to View Marine Mammals From 

an Airplane or Helicopter 

• Maintain a 1500-foot minimum

altitude when viewing marine

mammals from the air.

• Buzzing, hovering, landing, taking off,

and taxiing near marine mammals on land or in the

water is likely to harass the animals.

Guidelines For Using Drones

• Take a precautionary approach and

avoid flying drones in the vicinity of

marine mammals. See:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/uas.html

HUMPBACK WHALE 

APPROACH REGULATIONS

Additional Guidelines For 

Responsible Whale-Watching

Alaska Humpback Whale 

Approach Regulations

Federal regulations require that you:

• Not approach within 100 yards of a humpback whale.

• Not place your vessel in the path of oncoming

humpback whales causing them to surface within

100 yards of your vessel.

• Operate your vessel at a slow, safe speed when near

a humpback whale.

Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)

This law prohibits actions such as feeding, hunting, 

harassing, killing, capturing, injuring, disturbing or 

changing the behavior of a marine mammal.

• For more information please visit:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws/mmpa

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

The ESA protects all plant and animal species in danger 

of extinction. This law prohibits feeding, harassing, 

harming, pursuing, hunting, 

shooting, wounding, killing, 

trapping, capturing, collecting 

an endangered species or 

attempting to engage in any 

such conduct.

• For more information please visit:

https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/pr/species

IT IS ILLEGAL TO HARASS, PURSUE, FEED, HUNT, 

CAPTURE OR KILL WILD WHALES, SEALS AND 

SEA LIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THIS EXIST FOR SCIENTIFIC 

RESEARCH AND FOR ALASKA NATIVE SUBSISTENCE 

HARVEST AND HANDICRAFT.

FEDERAL LAWS 

PROTECTING WILDLIFE

Stay High and Fly By!

When in transit, stay as 

far as practicable 

from whales.

When viewing 

whales, start 

slowing speed 

at 1 mile. 

Marine Mammal 

Viewing Guidelines 

for Alaska

Alaska Region

*Federal regulations prohibit 

approaching humpback whales in 

Alaska closer than 100 yards. 

Buffer Zone

Continue Speed Reduction

No Wake Zone

Humpback Whale

Slow Speed. Come off Step.

( 5-7 knots )

Approach Regulation *

1

mile

1/2

mile

100

yards

600'

No Head-On

Approach

Look for the Whale SENSE logo to choose responsible Zone

operators, and adopt Whale SENSE principles when 

operating your own vessel near whales.

• Use reduced vessel speed as you approach and depart whales.

• Limit time spent with mom-calf pairs and cooperative feeding groups.

Each disturbance builds on the next. Whales need time 

and space to feed without disruption from vessels.

Please visit: https://whalesense.org

Please report violations to NOAA Fisheries 

Enforcement at:

Report stranded, entangled or injured marine 

mammals at:

(800) 853-1964

(877) 925-7773

Alaska Regional Office

https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/

Alaska Region
Too Late

Too Late

Alert! Be cautious, 

slowly back up

Alert! Be cautious, 

slowly back up

Disturbed Back off

slowly

Disturbed Back off

slowly

Steller Sea Lions

All major Steller sea lion haulouts and rookeries throughout 

Alaska are protected by regulation. Extra caution is needed 

in these areas to prevent harassment of Steller sea lions 

in their critical habitat. In Southeast Alaska, critical habitat 

includes the air, land and sea surrounding the site to 3,000 

ft in all directions. In Western-Southcentral Alaska, critical 

habitat includes a 20 nautical mile buffer around all major 

haulouts and rookeries, as well as associated terrestrial, air 

and aquatic zones, and three large offshore foraging areas.   

• For a list of these protected sites, see: 

https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/pr/ssl-critical-habitat

Harbor Seals in Glacial Fjords 

Voluntary guidelines to avoid disturbance to harbor seals in sensitive glacial habitats (all 

vessel types, year-round, as practicable):

• Strive to maintain 500 yds (about 0.25 mi) from seals without compromising safe 

navigation. Make an approach plan to avoid surprising seals. Be equally cautious 

when departing the fjord as arriving.

• Minimize wake, avoid abrupt changes in course or engine pitch, and avoid loud 

noises near seals. Consider avoiding use of PA systems.

• Minimize travel through thick ice, which serves as nursery habitat. The absence of 

seals on the ice doesn’t mean the area isn’t being used.

• When possible, target visits during early morning and evening hours when fewer 

seals are hauled out.

Area-specific protections: During pupping, from May 15-June 30, corridors for travel 

are recommended to minimize vessel overlap with seals in Disenchantment Bay (near 

Hubbard Glacier and Yakutat) and Tracy Arm (south of Juneau). 

• See: https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/hs-approach-guidelines.pdf

Seals and Sea Lions

Give animals space. Move away at the first sign 

of disturbance or agitation. 

Seals and sea lions on land are easily disturbed and may change position, move away, 

flee, and trample or abandon pups. Animals may become stressed and repeated 

interruptions may be harmful to their health. It may not be possible to see these 

reactions; maintain your distance to make sure you are not disrupting their behavior.

Be considerate of mothers and pups. 

Seals and sea lions come ashore to rest, regulate body temperature, and 

nurse their young. It is normal for mothers to leave pups behind while 

feeding offshore (up to 24 hours). Keep your distance so mom can 

return to care for her pup.

Keep pets away and on a leash. 

Pets can disturb or harm wildlife, or may separate 

mothers from their pups. These are wild animals that 

can injure or spread disease to pets and humans.

For your safety and the health 

of the animals.

We recommend staying at least 100 yards away from all marine mammals on land and 

at sea. Observe carefully, as animals may be disturbed at even greater distances.

Northern Fur Seals

Regulations prohibit entry to northern fur seal 

rookeries on St. Paul and St. George Islands without 

special permission between June 1 and October 15.

ENJOY FROM A SAFE 

DISTANCE

AVOID SURPRISING 

MARINE WILDLIFE

NEVER FEED OR ATTEMPT TO 

FEED MARINE WILDLIFE

DISPOSE OF TRASH PROPERLY

Watch from a distance...

for your safety 

and their protection

In Alaska, we’re lucky to share our waters with 

whales, seals, and sea lions. With that privilege comes 

responsibility. Responsible wildlife viewing helps to ensure 

protection and long-term survival for marine mammals in 

the wild, as well as to keep you safe.

• For additional information please visit:

https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/pr/mmviewing-guide

TIPS FOR MAXIMIZING 

YOUR VIEWING EXPERIENCE

© ADFG, NMFS Permit No. 18537 © ADFG, NMFS Permit No. 18537 © ADFG, NMFS Permit No. 358-1564