Small vessels are advised to stick to the coastline around Spain and the Strait of Gibraltar due to increasing killer whale attacks. Spanish authorities issued this warning after an orca damaged a boat's rudder, causing it to sink off the coast of Morocco. The passengers felt sharp blows to the hull and rudder before water started seeping into the vessel. Recent attacks have surged, with the Atlantic Orca Working Group recording 20 incidents in May 2023 alone. Orcas, averaging 16–21 feet in length off the Iberian coast, have targeted boats from the Strait of Gibraltar to Galicia. While interactions have generally been harmless, the frequency of such incidents has raised concerns. Despite their fearsome reputation, orcas have never attacked swimmers, and their interactions with boats stop once the vessel stops moving.