Montecastello Di Vibio, Italy 30th March - 4th April 1995
SUMMARY
Whale watching is a rapidly growing industry worldwide, with more than 4 million participants per year in about 50 countries and overseas territories. Twenty eight scientists and 5 observers from 12 countries met in Italy for 5 days, beginning on 30th March 1995, to discuss the scientific aspects of managing whale watching. Whale-watching rules have been established in some countries, but these appear to have little scientific basis and considerable discrepancies are evident between existing rules.
It was suggested that appropriate management objectives might include the fostering of positive respectful interactions between whales and whale watchers. An acceptable compromise should be found between the needs of whales and the desire of people to interact with whales.
The goal of the workshop was to produce a report containing: (1 ) a framework to guide the process of defining new rules and modifying existing rules for whale watching, (2) a list of recommendations for further research (including monitoring the impacts of whale watching) and (3) a discussion of further relevant topics. The report is intended for use primarily by scientists who study cetaceans to assist them in offering advice to managers and operators and in planning scientific research on cetaceans that is relevant to the management of whale watching. It is thus offered as a contribution to the scientific element of any management process.
The workshop outlined all the variables associated with whale-watching impacts. Although recent studies have begun to measure many of the short-term impacts or reactions of whales to whale watching, the workshop participants generally agreed that it is difficult to interpret such short- term impacts. In addition, there is little evidence to show that short-term impacts have any relation to possible long-term impacts on cetacean individuals, groups or populations. A need was identified for experimental research (including the use of new technologies) that would eventually lead to a better understanding of the link between short-term and long-term impacts of whale watching.
Since evidence of impacts is difficult to obtain, a precautionary approach was strongly recommended. Initial common-sense rules were suggested. Such rules would be flexible and an iterative process was developed for their modification based on feedback from scientific studies.
Citation: IFAW, Tethys Research Institute and Europe Conservation, 1995. Report of the Workshop on the Scientific Aspects of Managing Whale Watching, Montecastello di Vibio, Italy. 40 pages.
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