Sperm whales generally exhibit undramatic behaviour at the surface - they are a special whale rather than a spectacular one. There is thus a particular need to brief whale watchers adequately before the departure of the vessel so they will be better able to appreciate the animal they are about to meet. Special attention should be paid to acoustic features of sperm whale behaviour and their diving adaptations. Whale watchers should also be made aware of the codes of conduct and regulations that apply and what action to take if these guidelines are not adhered to.
Collaboration between whale-watch operators and those involved in education and research can be facilitated through the use of guides with a research interest in the subject, as is encouraged at Andenes. However, the provision of guides can also be a valuable source of employment for local people with relevant experience.
It was emphasised that training and experience at sea with whales is important for both skippers and guides.
Operators should make every effort to improve the quality of their education programme and to reduce the amount of potential harassment to the whales. It was agreed that a good education program and well-trained staff are important in reducing the level of disturbance.
The basic 'Montecastello concept' of first setting initial, interim guidelines for whale watching, and then frequently reviewing these guidelines on the basis of new information and specially commissioned research, was thought to be particularly appropriate considering the special characteristics of sperm whales (section 6). Reservations were expressed about the desirability or practicality of applying the complicated and prescriptive framework detailed in the Montecastello report however. The participants then built on the Montecastello report in formulating some advice on how such an ongoing review of whale-watching regulations and guidelines might be achieved.
Most importantly, it was felt that managers, scientists, operators, and other interested parties should be in regular and open communication about the effectiveness of the current guidelines. Operators should have a mechanism for making suggestions for changes to the current guidelines or regulations, when they feel this is warranted. Operators should be involved in gathering data, as outlined in section 7. Managers should commission regular scientific studies, and be kept aware of other relevant scientific developments. The links between new research data and new regulations should be made clear to the operators, other interested groups and the general public. Scientists should communicate with managers and operators when planning scientific studies, and make them aware of the results and implications of their research. They should also keep managers, operators and the public aware of any scientific developments relevant to whale- watching operations. Operators should be given the chance to review research results and suggest changes to the whale watching guidelines before information is released to the public.
It was agreed that information which would lead to concern and might lead to strengthening regulations would include: