Pod of orcas sinks tourist sailboat off Portugal; nine people rescued

A pod of orcas rammed and sank a tourist sailboat off Fonte da Telha beach, Portugal, on Saturday, forcing the evacuation of nine people from two recreational vessels who were later rescued by passing tourist boats, Portuguese maritime authorities said.

The sailboat, operated by the Nautic Squad club and carrying five people, began listing and then slowly submerged after several killer whales were filmed slamming into the hull. A second recreational boat, carrying four people off Cascais, was reportedly struck by the same group of animals and required assistance. All nine people were taken aboard nearby vessels and were reported to be physically well by the National Maritime Authority; none required medical treatment.

The Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre said it received the first alert at about 12:30 p.m. and immediately dispatched lifeguards. Crew aboard a dolphin-watching vessel operated by the Mercedes-Benz Oceanic Lounge reported observing erratic movements by the stricken sailboat and recorded footage showing at least four orcas circling the vessel as nearby boats moved in to help. Attempts by nearby vessels to tow the Nautic Squad boat to safety were unsuccessful; the craft sank shortly after.

Witness accounts differed on the number of animals involved and the manner of impact. Some observers described multiple whales repeatedly striking the hull, while other skippers reported a single animal striking the rudder two or three times and causing cracks that allowed water to flood the craft. In the Cascais incident, a tourist boat that happened to be nearby assisted the four people aboard the second vessel and brought them to safety.

The events come amid a sustained increase in reports of orcas in Iberian waters colliding with or damaging small craft. Regional authorities and fishing groups say attacks on vessels along the Atlantic coasts of Portugal and Spain have become more frequent since about 2019. Between 2020 and 2023, authorities documented roughly 500 incidents in which orcas struck boats, typically targeting rudders, according to regional reports. No human fatalities have been reported in connection with those incidents, but about 20% of affected vessels have been damaged and several have been lost.

Last month, Spain's coastguard issued advisories for sailors in Galicia to remain in port after receiving reports of whales ramming rudders in far shallower waters than historically typical, including at busy fishing and boating areas such as Vilaxoán in the Ría de Arousa. Most reported attacks since 2020 have occurred in deeper, less busy waters along the Atlantic coast of Galicia and near the Strait of Gibraltar, regions where orcas traditionally follow migrating bluefin tuna.

Researchers and marine biologists are studying possible causes for the shift in orca behavior. Scientists have documented that some Iberian pods have learned to attack rudders and propellers, a behavior that can spread culturally within social groups of cetaceans. Some biologists have suggested that changes in prey distribution, increasing human maritime activity, and other environmental pressures could be influencing the interactions between whales and vessels. Others have proposed that the behavior may be a learned response that provides sensory stimulation or an adrenaline effect for individual animals.

Portuguese maritime authorities and local coastguards continue to monitor the situation and advise caution for small craft operating in affected areas. Investigations into the circumstances of Saturday's sinkings and the animals' behavior are ongoing, and authorities reiterated protocols for reporting close encounters so rescue services and researchers can collect data and respond promptly.

The incidents underline growing concerns about human-wildlife interactions in coastal waters, as researchers seek to determine whether environmental changes, shifts in prey migration patterns, or cultural transmission among whales are driving a rise in collisions between orcas and boats in the Iberian region.