Whales Are Fighting Back — And We Might Deserve It

Ep50: Ted Lund

In this episode of Deck Tales, Captain Sammy Catling sits down with veteran captain, journalist, and whale-watching guide Ted Lund, broadcasting from Juneau, Alaska at the height of whale season. What begins as a conversation about humpback whales quickly expands into a wide-ranging, eye-opening discussion on marine conservation, cruise ship impacts, whale behavior, and life lived almost entirely at sea.

Ted shares firsthand stories—from whales struck by ships and learned orca “revenge” behavior, to bubble-net feeding spectacles, cruise ship pollution, and near-death experiences offshore. Blending hard science, lived experience, and dark humour, this episode challenges how we think about tourism, progress, and our responsibility to the ocean.

🌊 Key Takeaways

• Whales learn and teach behavior: Orca attacks on boats may be a learned, generational response to vessel strikes killing pod matriarchs.
• Cruise ships have hidden costs: From whale fatalities to coral damage, sediment plumes, invasive species, and infrastructure strain, the impacts go far beyond tourism dollars.
• Whale watching is booming—maybe too much: Alaska’s whale populations have rebounded, but overcrowding is pushing regulators toward caps and permits.
• The ocean remembers everything: Plastics, pharmaceuticals, and wastewater don’t disappear—they bioaccumulate and disrupt entire ecosystems.
• Experience matters: Ted’s unique mix of journalism and seamanship offers a rare, unfiltered look at how environmental decisions play out on the water.

#whalewatching #flyfishing #whaling #orca

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