Super news for Orca Fans

by firmm Team

Text: Katharina/Yvonne Zollinger (volunteer)
Photos: firmm

Like every year we eagerly awaited the arrival of the Orcas. After the Spanish fishermen had told us about Orca-sightings, the demand for Orca trips was increasing rapidly.

Today Jörn went out earlier than usually on our small boat, the firmm UNO, in order to search for the beloved cetaceans. In fact he found them with the Spanish fisher boats in the Atlantic Ocean. Later on myself and 60 Orca Fans also headed out, full of expectations, with the firmm Spirit. We were very lucky to encounter 9 animals and to observe them actively for some time, while they were eating. Contrary to their usual habit they headed towards Barbate, Spanish Coast. Something that we have not observed so far.

Orca 1

Orca 2

Orca 3

Orca 4

Orca 5

Orca 6

It seems that the Orca family has grown.

27. Juli 2009

A few days later we drove to the Moroccan fishermen, since we knew that the Orcas were dwelling close them.

Orca 1

As we approached the Pateras, we immediately knew that something was going on here. The fishermen where pulling their lines forcefully, while the Orcas were swimming excitedly back and forth and were resurfacing again and again. Their behaviour revealed that they were just waiting for the right moment, until the catch on the hook of the fishermen would came to the surface.

Orca 2


To strike a tuna, that can weigh up to 300 kilos is heavy labour. (hard work) The fishermen do not only have to keep a lid on the catch, but also on the hungry Orcas. But today the clever cetaceans put a spoke in the fishermen's wheel.

Orca 3

Orca 4

Orca 5

A gnawed off tuna, that was missing its best part, was the only thing that they could pull out. Disappointment and anger was written all over their faces.

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