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Fin of an orca (symbolic image)
Photo: L. Steijn / imago images / blickwinkel
After several killer whale attacks on the north-west coast of Spain, the Spanish government has temporarily banned shipping with small pleasure boats in the area.
As the Ministry of Transport announced, yachts with a length of less than 15 meters are no longer allowed to sail around a hundred kilometers of coastline.
The one-week ban is to protect "people and killer whales," it said.
According to the news agency AP, sailing out to sea is still allowed, so yachts are only encouraged not to be near the coast.
On the stretch of coast between Cape Priorioño Grande and Cape Punta de Estaca de Bares on the Galician coast, several sailing boats have been attacked by killer whales in recent weeks.
Many of the boats were damaged on the rudder.
A video posted on the Internet showed an incident in August in which killer whales approached a yacht and swam under the boat.
Only later did the sailors notice the damage.
The Ministry of Transport has not ruled out an extension of the sailing ban to other sections of the coast.
This depends on the "migration route" of the killer whales, which are classified as endangered species.
Killer whales can weigh up to six tons and reach a length of ten meters.
Researchers observe the behavior of the killer whales with concern and so far have no explanation for the attacks.
A biologist told AP that he assumed that the animals merely got too close to the yachts while playing and hit them too hard.
Whales and dolphins would like to swim next to boats.
Icon: The mirror
fek / AFP / AP
