The global phenomenon of whale watching is growing. According to the most recent statistics, nine million people went whale watching in 1998, most of them from aboard a vessel of some kind. They spent one billion U.S. dollars in a total of 87 countries. This activity is often touted as ecotourism, representing as it does an exceptional opportunity to turn these legendary animals into ambassadors for the protection of the marine environment. Yet, there is growing concern about what effects boats may have on cetaceans.
In response to these concerns, codes of ethics, guides of proper conduct and regulations have been put in place almost everywhere whale-watching cruises take place. In 1997, even the International Whaling Commission (IWC) adopted general principles to supervise whale watching on a global scale.
All of these directives have been inspired by the experience of ship captains and researchers working at sea with whales and, occasionally, by scientific studies that have documented what disturbs the whales. However, the devising of these studies poses many challenges: the results are often difficult to interpret and response varies according to species, time of year, activity of the whale and so forth. For these reasons, the IWC recommends that rules and codes of conduct be progressive; they must be adaptable to new information, as it becomes available.
There is still some question as to whether short-term behavioural changes lead to long-term impacts on whales. Is whale watching truly a conservation issue? At the request of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland whale researcher Jon Lien prepared a document on the subject in 2000. He sounded the alarm; what characterizes cetaceans also renders them vulnerable to disturbance. Many whale populations are still fragile and major and rapid changes in their environment are taking place. These animals depend on the critical habitats where they tend to gather. Whale-watching activities also tend to concentrate in these same areas. Disturbance then becomes repetitive and effects can be cumulative, which can eventually affect their health and thus their chances of survival and reproduction.
Caution is therefore required. Everything must be done to respect the whales and avoid disrupting their essential activities. The ongoing survival of these fascinating animals and the riverside communities that live in rhythm with them may depend on it.
Robert Michaud and Janie Giard (GREMM) have ascertained that the fin whales present at the head of the Laurentian Channel curtail the amount of time they spend at depth in the presence of a large contingent of boats. As small as it is, this difference is nonetheless disquieting; it is the whale’s feeding time that is shortened. There is concern that over the long term the shortened feeding time may affect fin whale health and reproduction.
Véronique Lesage (MLI-DFO) has discovered that beluga whales change their vocal behaviour in the presence of boats. When a boat is within one kilometre, the whales often repeat their calls and change vocalization frequency, which is kind of like switching radio stations when reception is bad.
Several studies carried out on humpback whales in Canada, or elsewhere on their feeding grounds, have demonstrated that this species reacts to whale-watching vessels. Groups disperse; animals change direction or leave the area. The behavioural changes can be noted when the boats are still several kilometres away and up to 20 minutes after they have left the area.
Jon Lien summarizes the results of all studies that deal with boat disturbance of whales this way: the essential activities carried out by whales may be interrupted when there is a large number of boats, when approach distances are too short, when vessels move too rapidly or make too much noise or when the animals are being pursued.
Certain studies have shown no reaction. Instead, they underlined the fact that whale behaviour is also dictated by other factors such as social and geographic conditions, the physiological state of the animals and their past experiences.
Although researchers share the view that boat disturbance can represent serious consequences for whales, it is not easy to determine precisely what type of conduct should be curtailed. Captains and naturalists working in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park gave us their own opinions:
What disturbs the whales?
Rapid and repetitive movements on whale-watching sites.
Numerous changes of direction.
Numerous noisy boats (more than 5).
Changes is engine speed.
Boats encircling a whale.
Pursuits (rapid and repetitive movements towards a whale that is swimming away).
A boat that cuts off a whale.
Competition between boats for a good observation: We then forget that the whale is not there for our pleasure and the risk of abusive and disturbing behaviour increases.
For the blue whale: any rapid approach, even from a great distance away.
Numerous immobile boats.
Approaches to within 100 m, if the boat is moving at a very slow speed parallel to the whale.
I want to know more
Do the whale-watching boats disturb whales?