The State - News from April 24, 1988

Juvenile gray whales drawing undesired attention in San Francisco Bay have prompted marine biologists to issue a warning to boaters to keep their distance, lest the young mammals be frightened or harmed. Mary Jane Schramm, a spokeswoman for the Marine Mammal Center, said approaching boats may force these curious “teen-agers of the whale world”--swimming where they are not supposed to--to dive deeper than they should or stay submerged longer. This can take a toll on a whale’s body, added Schramm, who said the youngsters are part of the annual spring gray whale migration from Baja California to the Gulf of Alaska. Federal guidelines require boaters to maintain a 300-foot distance from the whales. Violators face a fine up to $20,000 and one year in jail, Schramm warned.