33 CFR 165.1310: Makah whale hunt regulated navigation area
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section creates a Regulated Navigation Area off Northwest Washington for Makah whale hunting. During a hunt, a Moving Exclusion Zone with a radius of 500 yards surrounds the hunt vessel flying international numeral pennant five (5). No person or vessel may enter the active zone unless the text allows it.
Applies toIt applies to persons and vessels in the Regulated Navigation Area, including Makah whale hunt vessels, the Makah Tribe, and media pool vessels.
What it says
During a whale hunt, a Moving Exclusion Zone covers the column of water from the surface to the seabed with a radius of 500 yards around the Makah whale hunt vessel displaying international numeral pennant five (5).
33 CFR 165.1310(b)“The column of water from the surface to the seabed with a radius of 500 yards centered on the Makah whale hunt vessel displaying international numeral pennant five (5).”
The Moving Exclusionary Zone is active only when surface visibility exceeds one nautical mile, between sunrise and sunset, and the Makah whale hunt vessel displays the pennant.
33 CFR 165.1310(b)“This Moving Exclusionary Zone is activated only when surface visibility exceeds one nautical mile, between sunrise and sunset, and the Makah whale hunt vessel displays the international numeral pennant five (5).”
Unless the Commander, USCG Northwest District or his or her representative authorizes otherwise, no person or vessel may enter the active zone, except an authorized Makah whale hunt vessel actively hunting or a single authorized media pool vessel.
33 CFR 165.1310(c)“Unless otherwise authorized by the Commander, USCG Northwest District or his or her representative, no person or vessel may enter the active Moving Exclusionary Zone except for:”
Only one Makah whale hunt vessel may display the pennant, and only during actual whale hunt operations. No other vessel may display it within the RNA at any time.
33 CFR 165.1310(d)“The international numeral pennant five (5) is only authorized to be displayed from one Makah whale hunt vessel during actual whale hunt operations.”
The Makah Tribe must make SECURITE broadcasts on channel 16 VHF-FM, starting one half hour before a hunt begins and repeating every half hour until hunting activities conclude.
33 CFR 165.1310(e)“The Makah Tribe shall make SECURITE broadcasts beginning one half hour before the commencement of a hunt and every half hour thereafter until hunting activities are concluded.”
A media pool vessel needs Coast Guard preauthorization before it enters the Moving Exclusionary Zone.
33 CFR 165.1310(f)(1)“Coast Guard preauthorization is required prior to entry into the Moving Exclusionary Zone by a single media pool vessel.”
The media pool vessel must be a U.S. documented vessel, and a master holding a license or merchant mariner credential issued in the U.S. to carry passenger for hire must command it at all times within the zone.
33 CFR 165.1310(f)(2)“The media pool vessel must be a U.S. documented vessel.”
The master of the media pool vessel must maneuver to avoid positioning the vessel between whales and hunt vessels, and must avoid hindering the hunt or the whale's path in any way.
33 CFR 165.1310(f)(3)“The master of the media pool vessel shall maneuver to avoid positioning the pool vessel between whales and hunt vessel(s), out of the line of fire,”
Common questions
How far must I stay from a Makah whale hunt vessel?
The Moving Exclusion Zone has a radius of 500 yards around the hunt vessel displaying international numeral pennant five (5). It is active only under the conditions in paragraph (b).
“The column of water from the surface to the seabed with a radius of 500 yards centered on the Makah whale hunt vessel displaying international numeral pennant five (5).”
When is the Makah Moving Exclusionary Zone deactivated?
The zone is deactivated at sunset, when visibility drops below one nautical mile, or when the Makah hunt vessel strikes the pennant.
“The Moving Exclusionary Zone is deactivated upon sunset, visibility is reduced to less than one nautical mile, or when the Makah hunt vessel strikes international numeral pennant five (5).”
How can media enter the Makah whale hunt exclusion zone?
Credentialed media may request permission to operate a single media vessel by telephoning Coast Guard Public Affairs. Coast Guard preauthorization is required before entry.
“Credentialed members of the media interested in entering the Moving Exclusionary Zone may request permission to operate a single media vessel in the Moving Exclusionary Zone”
What does the Makah SECURITE broadcast say about pennant colors?
The broadcast states that the international numeral pennant five (5) is yellow and blue in color.
“This pennant is yellow and blue in color.”
The text of 33 CFR 165.1310
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Strait of Juan de Fuca and adjacent coastal waters of Northwest Washington; Makah Whale Hunting—Regulated Navigation Area
(a) The following area is a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA): From 48°02.25′ N, 124°42.1′ W northward along the mainland shoreline of Washington State to Cape Flattery and thence eastward along the mainland shoreline of Washington State to 48°22′ N, 124°34′ W; thence due north to 48°24.55′ N, 124°34′ W; thence northwesterly to 48°27.1′ N, 124°41.7′ W; thence due west to 48°27.1′ N, 124°45.5′ W; thence southwesterly to 48°20.55′ N, 124°51.05′ W, thence west south west to 48°18.0′ N 124°59.0′ W, thence due south to 48°02.25′ N, 124°59.0′ W) thence due east back to the shoreline of Washington at 48°02.25′ N, 124°42.1′ W. Datum: NAD 1983.
(b) During a whale hunt, while the international numeral pennant five (5) is flown by a Makah whale hunt vessel, the following area within the RNA is a Moving Exclusion Zone: The column of water from the surface to the seabed with a radius of 500 yards centered on the Makah whale hunt vessel displaying international numeral pennant five (5). This Moving Exclusionary Zone is activated only when surface visibility exceeds one nautical mile, between sunrise and sunset, and the Makah whale hunt vessel displays the international numeral pennant five (5). The Moving Exclusionary Zone is deactivated upon sunset, visibility is reduced to less than one nautical mile, or when the Makah hunt vessel strikes international numeral pennant five (5).
(c) Unless otherwise authorized by the Commander, USCG Northwest District or his or her representative, no person or vessel may enter the active Moving Exclusionary Zone except for:
(1) Authorized Makah whale hunt vessel actively engaged in hunting operations under direction of the master of the Makah vessel flying international numeral pennant five (5), and
(2) A single authorized media pool vessel operating in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section.
(d) The international numeral pennant five (5) is only authorized to be displayed from one Makah whale hunt vessel during actual whale hunt operations. No other vessels may display this pennant within the RNA at any time. Whale hunt operations commence when a whale hunt vessel is underway and its master intends to have a whale killed during the voyage. Whale hunt operations cease once this intent is abandoned, a whale is landed, or when the international numeral pennant five (5) is struck.
(e) The Makah Tribe shall make SECURITE broadcasts beginning one half hour before the commencement of a hunt and every half hour thereafter until hunting activities are concluded. This broadcast shall be made on channel 16 VHF-FM and state:
A whale hunt is proceeding today within the Regulated Navigation Area established for Makah whaling activities. The (name of vessel) is a (color and description of vessel) and will be flying international numeral pennant five (5) while engaged in whaling operations. This pennant is yellow and blue in color. Mariners are required by federal regulation to stay 500 yards away from (name of vessel), and are strongly urged to remain even further away from whale hunt activities as an additional safety measure.
(f)(1) Credentialed members of the media interested in entering the Moving Exclusionary Zone may request permission to operate a single media vessel in the Moving Exclusionary Zone by telephoning Coast Guard Public Affairs, as soon as practicable at (206) 220-7237 during normal working hours, and (206) 220-7001 after hours. Coast Guard preauthorization is required prior to entry into the Moving Exclusionary Zone by a single media pool vessel.
(2) The media pool vessel must be a U.S. documented vessel. The media pool vessel must be under command at all times within the Moving Exclusionary zone by a master holding a license or merchant mariner credential issued in the U.S. to carry passenger for hire. All expenses, liabilities and risks associated with operation of the media pool vessel lie with members of the pool and the pool vessel owners and operators.
(3) The master of the media pool vessel shall maneuver to avoid positioning the pool vessel between whales and hunt vessel(s), out of the line of fire, at a prudent distance and location relative to whale hunt operations, and in a manner that avoids hindering the hunt or path of the whale in any way.
(4) Although permitted to maneuver within the Moving Exclusionary Zone, personnel aboard the media pool vessel are still required to follow safety and law enforcement related instructions of Coast Guard personnel.
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.