“March through April is the peak time for spotting humpback whales around Bermuda,” and officials urged the public to follow guidelines, noting that “boaters should not get closer than 100 meters” and the “public is also strongly advised not to swim with whales.”

A Government spokesperson said, “March through April is the peak time for spotting humpback whales around Bermuda. As part of journeying from their breeding grounds in the Caribbean to their feeding grounds on the eastern seaboard of North America and as far north as Greenland and Iceland, the whales swim through our waters.

“For the public, watching these majestic animals, spouting, breaching or swimming along slowly with a calf is a thrilling experience, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR] wishes to remind the public of how to observe the whales safely.

“To minimize the disturbance caused by whale watchers and ensure the safety of the boating public while they watch the whales, DENR has developed guidelines for whale watching, which are available at https://environment.bm/whale-watching-guidelines.

“The Department urges the public to familiarize themselves with these guidelines before whale watching. Specifically, boaters should not get closer than 100 meters [or 300 feet] to any whale.

“Whales will sometimes approach a boat of their own accord. If this occurs, put your engine in neutral and let the animal[s] come to you. If a whale tries to leave the area where you are in a boat, do not chase it. The public is also strongly advised not to swim with whales. No matter how docile they may appear, a whale could unintentionally strike a swimmer with a casual tail or fin slap, causing severe injury or even worse.

Read more here: https://bernews.com/2022/03/govt-issue-advisory-whale-watching/