Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

OFFSHORE KILLER WHALE

Orcinus orca

MONTEREY BAY'S OFFSHORE KILLER WHALES, MAJESTIC AND CAPTIVATING.

This specific ecotype of killer whale is rare in Monterey. We often have a multi year gap between sighting.

Offshores orcas inhabits the water well beyond the coast. Far less is known about offshore orcas, but recent observations show that sharks are an important part of their diet as fish-eaters. Offshores tend to be smaller than Transient killer whales and group in pods of between 60 – 100 individuals. This ecotype uses long range communication to spot their prey.


Diet

Families Specialize On What They Eat Fish Eaters: Fish especially sharks like Sleeper shark, spiny dogfish, blue shark and possibly Pacific salmon, Pacific halibut and Opah

Population Status | Monterey

Data Deficient

Legal Protection

Marine Mammal Protection Act, National Marine Protected Area Act, Endangered Species Act

Threats

Human Related Loss (Habitat Loss, Ocean Noise, Hunting, Food Source Loss, Climate Change, Disturbance, Entanglement, Harassment, Oil Spills, Pollution, Boat Strikes, Collisions)

Size

22ft (Unisex)

Weight

15,000 lb (Unisex)



BEHAVIORS