Tourists gather to watch annual whale migration off Mexico’s Pacific Coast.
Organized whale watching dates back to 1950 when the Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego was declared a public venue for observing Gray Whales. In 1955 the first water-based whale watching commenced in the same area, charging customers $1 per trip to view the whales at closer quarters. Whale watching attracted 10,000 visitors in its first year.
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The rapid growth of the number of whale watching trips and the size of boats used to watch whales may affect whale behavior, migratory patterns and breeding cycles. Strong evidence that whale watching can significantly affect the biology and ecology of whales and dolphins.
Environmental campaigners, concerned by what they consider the “quick-buck” mentality of some boat owners, continue to strongly urge all whale watcher operators to contribute to local regulations governing whale watching (no international standard set of regulations exist because of the huge variety of species and populations).
Whale Watching Rules:
Minimize speed/”No wake” speed
Avoid sudden turns
Minimize noise
Do not pursue, encircle or come in between whales
Approach whales from angles where they will not be taken by surprise
Consider cumulative impact – minimize number of boats at any one time/per day
Do not coerce dolphins into bow-riding.
Do not allow swimming with dolphins. (This last rule is more contentious and is often disregarded in, for example, the Caribbean.)
Source: WDCS. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society is a wildlife charity that is dedicated solely to the worldwide conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans).
See also …
WDCS International — Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society