[Whale Watching Guidelines]
Questions to consider when booking a whale or
dolphin watching tour
Introduction
Questions to Ask
Boat Handling Guidelines
Introduction
Imagine a peaceful Friday afternoon. You and your
family and friends are enjoying a picnic in the open air, talking and laughing and
savouring a delicious meal. Suddenly a band of motorcycles roars into your picnic ground.
The sound is deafening. The bikers careen through the middle of your picnic mat,
scattering food everywhere and terrifying children and adults alike. The bikers seem to
take pleasure in watching your startled and frightened response as you and your family
jump up scatter every which way trying to avoid being run down by a motorcycle. A
ludicrous thought? Impossible to imagine that any one would behave in such a senseless and
cruel manner? In fact, this is what happens each time a whale or dolphin watching vessel
pursues its quarry without proper care and consideration.
As the local industry grows, tour operators will need to take special care to protect
the resource that they are exploiting. Some operators may be tempted to speed through
groups of dolphins to make them jump, or approach whales so closely that they slap their
tails or fins. These operators may not be aware that the displays are actually signs of
warning or discomfort. Customers who participate in these tours may unwittingly contribute
to the harassment of whales and dolphins. If continued, these practices could eventually
drive the animals away from the areas where they can be easily observed and operators
would ultimately destroy their own business.
A growing body of scientific evidence supports our common sense assumptions about
potential effects of irresponsible whale-watching. For example, we know that, like
motorcycles roaring through a picnic, the noise of boat engines is likely to interfere
with communication and echolocation activities of whales and dolphins. Similarly, many
dolphins have scars and evidence of damage to their dorsal fins, which may have been
caused by boat propellers that could not be avoided in time.
 |
- Spinner dolphins near Fahal Island - |
Studies in New Zealand and British Columbia have also shown that tourist and fishing
boats can distract dolphins and killer whales from important feeding, resting and
socialising behaviours. As the whale watching industry grows, higher numbers of boats
present over longer periods of time may deprive the observed populations of needed food
and rest. Higher levels of boat traffic may also induce stress and anxiety in observed
populations, especially if boats are unpredictable or extremely persistent in their
movements, forcing whales or dolphins to take evasive measures to avoid collision with
hulls or propellers. Over a period of time, accumulated stress and deprivation of food or
rest may harm the overall biological fitness of a population or force them to permanently
abandon the area where they are being observed.
Many countries with well-developed whale-watching industries have found it necessary to
implement and enforce strict guidelines to prevent harassment of whales and dolphins. Oman
has yet to implement formal guidelines or regulations. However, there are a number of
things that you as an individual can do to help prevent harassment of local whale and
dolphin populations. Whether you are watching them from your own boat on the weekend, or
participating in a commercially operated tour, adhering to or encouraging your tour
operator to adhere to dolphin-watching guidelines will help limit the impact we humans
have on the species we are so keen to observe. It may also help to ensure that they will
still be here for others to enjoy in the near future.
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Questions to Ask
Here are some questions you can ask your tour operator to ensure that you are choosing
a good dolphin- or whale-watching trip. By asking well-informed questions about safety
standards, educational aims and boat-handling practices, you can help encourage local
businesses to offer a better service, which will ultimately benefit the whales and
dolphins of Oman:
- What are the safety standards of your tours?
Are there life jackets on board for all customers (including appropriate children's
sizes?). Is there a first aid kit on board and someone trained to use it? Does the boat
captain have a VHF radio or GSM telephone?
- Is there an educational element to your tours?
Is there a pre-tour briefing or explanation? Is there an on-board naturalist who can
identify the species being viewed and explain aspects of their behaviour or ecology? No
tour operator can guarantee dolphin sightings. On trips where dolphins are not found,
having a naturalist on board can ensure that the trip is still interesting and
educational.
- Does the boat driver adhere to guidelines?
Many tour operators may believe that guests simply want to get as close as possible to
the dolphins or whales. By asking this question, and encouraging tour operators to adhere
to the guidelines below, you can help to ensure that Oman's whales and dolphins are not
unduly stressed or "run out of town" by irresponsible practices.
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Boat Handling Guidelines
Boat-handling guidelines for whale and dolphin encounters (see picture):
Do:
- Let the whales or dolphins choose how they will interact with you.
- Slow down to a "no wake" speed 300 m from whales or dolphins.
- Approach from a position parallel and slightly behind.
- Limit your approach to 100 m for whales and 50 m for dolphins.
- If the whales or dolphins approach closer, turn off your engine or let the motor idle.
- Maintain a predictable course or speed.
- Limit the amount of time you spend with a group, especially if there are other boats in
the area.
Don't:
- Approach groups of whales or dolphins head on.
- Speed through groups of whales or dolphins.
- Separate groups (particularly groups with young).
- Block their direction of travel or attempt to herd them in any way.
- Throw rubbish in the water or attempt to feed them.
- Chase animals if they are clearly trying to avoid the boat or leave the area.
Now that you know what constitutes responsible whale & dolphin watching why not book a tour!
Top of page
Imagine a peaceful Friday afternoon. You and your
family and friends are enjoying a picnic in the open air, talking and laughing and
savouring a delicious meal. Suddenly a band of motorcycles roars into your picnic ground.
The sound is deafening. The bikers careen through the middle of your picnic mat,
scattering food everywhere and terrifying children and adults alike. The bikers seem to
take pleasure in watching your startled and frightened response as you and your family
jump up scatter every which way trying to avoid being run down by a motorcycle. A
ludicrous thought? Impossible to imagine that any one would behave in such a senseless and
cruel manner? In fact, this is what happens each time a whale or dolphin watching vessel
pursues its quarry without proper care and consideration. 
