🐋 Third Whale Calf Hit by Boat in Banderas Bay This Season

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There’s some difficult news out of the bay this week.

A humpback whale calf was struck by a boat in Bahía de Banderas and suffered eight propeller cuts. The injuries were documented by the conservation group Ecobac. The calf is still alive, but researchers say it is unlikely to survive long term.

This is now the third serious whale collision of the 2025–2026 season (official season runs Dec 8, 2025 – Mar 23, 2026).

Earlier this season:

• A passenger died after a boat collided with a whale near Puerto Vallarta

• Another whale (reported as a female) was badly injured in a separate incident

Researchers had recently observed more than 15 calves resting at the surface in the bay — something that’s very common during winter months when humpbacks arrive here to mate, give birth, and nurse their young.

Why this keeps happening:

Bahía de Banderas is shared water. Whale-watching tours, water taxis, fishing boats, private vessels, and daily crossings all operate in the same corridor. Mothers and calves often rest near the surface, which makes them vulnerable. Even a small lapse in attention — or too much speed — can end badly.

There are already federal whale-watching regulations in place, including:

• Speed limits under 5 knots in observation areas• Strict approach distances

• No cutting between mother and calf

• A 240-meter waiting distance for vessels

• Restricted zones near Islas Marietas and from Punta Mita to the Río Ameca

The issue isn’t the lack of rules — it’s consistent enforcement across all boats, not just licensed tour operators.

For those of us living here, this isn’t abstract. Many of us cross the bay regularly or host visiting family during whale season.

If you’re booking a tour:

• Choose permitted operators

• Ask about their speed policies

• Pay attention to how responsibly they navigate

Whale season is one of the most special parts of living in PV.