Orcas surround whale watching boat off Southern California coast

A group of 13 killer whales from the Eastern Tropical Pacific population recently surrounded a whale watching vessel off the coast of Southern California. The encounter, which took place near Laguna Beach and Newport Beach, involved whales exhibiting “mugging” behavior, where they voluntarily approach and linger near boats without aggression.

Capt. Matt Stumpf of Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari noted that seeing such a large group is rare, stating, “On a good year, we expect to see maybe one such orca.” The presence of these whales, which are typically found further south near Baja, has prompted speculation regarding shifting marine patterns. Stumpf attributed the unusual northward movement to unseasonably warm ocean temperatures caused by El Niño, noting that waters near San Clemente Island have remained above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a separate coastal encounter, a kayaker in the San Francisco Bay Area reported a close encounter with a great white shark near Half Moon Bay.