Robin W. Baird, Robert Otis and Richard W. Osborne
The following is the abstract of a presentation to the Workshop on Whale Watching Research, Monaco, January 19, 1998.
Abstract
In the trans-boundary area of Haro Strait, along the Canadian/U.S. border, a large and rapidly growing commercial whale watching industry is based on a small local population of killer whales. In addition, large numbers of private recreational boaters, land-based whale watchers, and occasionally aircraft, also engage in whale watching. Despite the existance of boating "guidelines" in Canada and both "regulations" and "guidelines" in the U.S., both the commercial and recreational boaters are largely uncontrolled and unregulated. There are few potential limits on growth of the whale watching fleet; the population of the area totals over 5.5 million people, moorage is virtually unlimited, and whales and weather are both fairly predictable. In 1997 over 80 commercial whale watching boats were operating in the area, and an average of over 25 boats (only one quarter of which were commercial boats) were with whales during passes by one land-based research site. There is a widespread perception that boats harass killer whales, and this perception seems to be greater from land-based observers than boat-based observers. Results from a questionnaire survey suggest that boats impact detrimentally on the whale watching experience of land-based watchers more frequently than they do for boat-based watchers. Regardless of perceptions, a ongoing (since 1990) study of boat/whale interactions has been unable to document any impact of boats on killer whale behaviour. Long-term impacts are not apparent either: whales’ use of the area has remained stable or increased over the last 20 years. Several efforts at "self" regulation have been initiated, including the formation of a private industry association, with guidelines for boating around whales, and a boater education program, run through a local non-profit organization. However, there are a number of limitations on the current effectiveness of these programs. Regardless of the potential for impacts, boat behaviour around whales should be regulated in order to minimize the esthetic impact of boats on the whale watching experience of both land-based and boat-based whale watchers.