🔍 Key Concepts

• Marine Mammal Protection regulations for endangered whales in U.S. waters • Difference between slow/avoid vs. chase/scare behavior around whales • What "within 500 yards" typically requires for course and speed of your vessel

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: Are you required to actively scare a protected animal away, or to minimize disturbance to it? • Between the options, which actions would most reduce noise, wake, and collision risk for the whale? • Does increasing speed near a whale ever make sense from a safety and legal-compliance standpoint?

✅ Before You Answer

• Eliminate any option that involves harassing or chasing the whale, even if the intent is to protect it • Focus on options that change both course away from the whale and speed to minimize risk • Consider whether simply waiting in place near a whale is safer or riskier than carefully moving away at reduced speed