Fletcher500
Guru
Yes, have seen the Humpbacks off Monterey quite a few times. They pass through this area and will sometimes linger off the northern Channel Islands to feed, but I believe they are just passing through.
Yes, some 20,000 or so move on up from Mexico along the west coast to BC and Alaska. Another 10,000 from Hawaii.I believe they are just passing through.
I believe the use of AIS information for non-safety purposes may have the unintended effect of discouraging adoption of the system. This is the first time I became aware of this non-safety use and it certainly makes me uneasy about using the system. Retaining a record of the movement of vessels is downright creepy.
No you are not the only one, but nonetheless a false flag. Were there any whales there, probably not. How do I know, the OP did not mention whale watchers he had to dodge.It was used for safety of the Orca (whales).
I can’t possibly be the only one who sees this!
Some might argue that it was also used for safety of the OP’s wallet in that another option, rather than contact by radio, could have been to board and give a ticket and resulting fine.
Yes. I think it was used for safety.
Hopefully some brainiac is working on automated updating of AIS to have virtual makers/notes displayed so people DO use AIS all the time and it provides this useful info.
I believe the use of AIS information for non-safety purposes may have the unintended effect of discouraging adoption of the system. This is the first time I became aware of this non-safety use and it certainly makes me uneasy about using the system. Retaining a record of the movement of vessels is downright creepy.
The technology exists and is in use in some areas. The first time I noticed it was for the outer markers of San Fran VTS. Those "buoys" are now virtual.
Understood. Just guessing, the speed to add the zone boundaries and additional info on AIS is probably limted more by bureaucratic nonsense than technical issues.I know the virtual navaid has been around for awhile on the East coast... not sure how fast one can be added or deleted or how much "info" can be attached to explain things beyond simple navaid marking.
I believe the use of AIS information for non-safety purposes may have the unintended effect of discouraging adoption of the system. This is the first time I became aware of this non-safety use and it certainly makes me uneasy about using the system. Retaining a record of the movement of vessels is downright creepy.
I have been aware of this area since it started, but have to agree it is not well marked. Navionics does show Vessel NO Go zone in the middle section once, but unless you magnify it to look for it, does not stand out from the other dotted lines. Like putting a tree in front of a stop sign.
CCG and Customs should work together to better advertise it to our visitors.
Whiskey Gulf is also well known, and you still have to chart a course around it.
But to leave the Bedwell custom docks you turn right into the zone.
I am a rule follower and was surprised to discover the whale protection zone and yes it was the section next to pender. I may have gotten a little more complacent by following another boat that made this trip every year and it was my first.I dont recall seeing anything on the garmin charts.
Greetings,
Mr. S. "Retaining a record of the movement of vessels is downright creepy." 1984 is NOT a novel by George Orwell. It's a user manual.
As most fans of the novel know, Orwell's original title for it was "1948".Greetings,
Mr. S. "Retaining a record of the movement of vessels is downright creepy." 1984 is NOT a novel by George Orwell. It's a user manual.
The OP had no intent of breaking any rules. He was singled out ONLY because he had AIS. I think any rule/law that discriminates is morally wrong. Period. The OP was threatened with a fine if he was caught in a whale zone again. Is he really wrong for not transmitting AIS like the other two boats he was traveling with? If so, how come transmitters arn't mandatory? How come it's not mandatory to have the ability to update your charts to show these zones? I don't have AIS or the ability to update my charts. However, I am vaccinated.
Were you alongside North Pender Island between June 1st - November 30, 2022? A map was issued showing the boundary areas and caveats for Southern BC waters.
Interestingly, we received our AIS MMIS from BoatUS who said it would not work in Canada. Guess it does.
What are those exceptions and are they the same everywhere?A lot of chatter here over AIS that, with a few exceptions, is not required equipment for recreational vessels.
Greetings,
Mr. S. "Retaining a record of the movement of vessels is downright creepy." 1984 is NOT a novel by George Orwell. It's a user manual.
What I’ve gleaned from this thread is not about the use of AIS as an invasion of our privacy nor the reasons for the zones, including several in the San Juans. Sadly, it shows that there are a large number of skippers that don’t keep up with the various navigation publications available.
Case in point, I was checking in with Customs at VanIsle and a poster announcing and depicting restricted zones caught my eye. Okay, I’m one who’s always looking around to see if there’s something special in that moment, but sometimes just looking around pays off. The poster was informative and clear. On the other hand there’s another whole group who would look only for the phone and miss a $100 bill sitting next to it.
It seemed like there were a larger than normal number of sinkings and groundings this year due to navigation errors. Routing that went over known hazards then relying on the auto pilot. Someone called them Covid Boats. I had three situations where I had to take evasive action to avoid a collision.
The bottom line is getting people to pay attention to the information that’s out there and check before leaving the dock, and agencies need to get creative in disseminating information. I expect that if the OP, or anyone in the group they were with, had noticed some sort of announcement, the situation would have been avoided. They were far from alone. Listening to the VHF, channel 16 was alive with vessels being called out and corrected.