500 contacts in 2023, 40% drop in 2024, 80% in 2025. CIRCE: playful, non-aggressive behaviour. Satellite tagging of individuals. Recommendation: maintain speed towards shallow water. Cultural transmission to calves under debate.
The orcas that frequent the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar and the Gulf of Cádiz have a peculiar situation: their subsistence depends largely on interactions with the longlines and nets of tuna fishing vessels. Divers debate whether diving with orcas is possible or advisable, and what impact human pressure has. There are only a few dozen individuals and fishing pressure on bluefin tuna threatens their main food source.
Iberian Atlantic orcas have been interacting with sailing vessels since 2020. Data from Salvamento Marítimo shows that around 500 contacts were recorded in 2023, a figure that dropped 40% in 2024; by 2025 the cumulative decline exceeds 80%. Experts from CIRCE agree that the behavior is playful, not aggressive, similar to young orcas learning to manipulate objects. Since 2023, several individuals have been satellite-tagged to map risk areas, and the official recommendation is to maintain or increase speed and head toward shallower waters if contact occurs.