IT’s still a bit of an uphill battle as different groups think it’s reasonable for historic reasons as well as gastronomic. I concur and hope it ends soon. These are very intelligent mammals (our group) with societies, structure and communication. My neighbour Bill Terbrugge invented the orcaphone which is an underwater microphone that the whale researchers use today and have put together a library of chirps, clicks, squeals and songs. Some folks think this may be a progenitor to primitive language. If we’re lucky we may find out one day. I think the whales mostly are curious about us being around in small boats and don’t mind interacting as long as there is no obvious threat to them or their families.