Whale watching
Whale watching ( English whale watching ) is the observation of whales in their natural habitat.
The people themselves who watch whales are known as whale watchers or whale watchers. The term whale watching also covers the narrower term dolphin watching as dolphins zoological in the order of cetaceans ( Cetacea are classified).
Types of whale watching
Around 75 percent of the world's whales and dolphins are observed from boats. There are also a large number of observation points on land around the world from which one can make very good observations. This is often used by scientists and the great advantage of land-based whale watching is that it does not disturb the animals in any way.
A comparatively exclusive (and expensive) type of whale watching is observation from an airplane or helicopter, but this makes up less than one percent of the total volume. Another form of whale watching is swimming with whales or dolphins.
The majority (around 70 to 80 percent) of today's whale watching is still based on the observation of large whales such as gray whales in the Pacific , blue whales in the North Atlantic , right whales off South Africa or humpback whales off the Australian coast.
The observation of dolphins and other small whales is growing in importance. This is mainly due to the fact that more and more local dolphin populations are becoming known. In addition, such populations can usually be found more reliably than migrating large whales , which makes them more “accessible” for commercial providers.
Sighting probability
In principle, whales can be observed on all coasts of the oceans and tributaries worldwide. However, there are numerous “hotspots” around the world. B.
- have stable, local populations of toothed whales (e.g. 500 short-finned pilot whales off Tenerife all year round )
- frequented by baleen whales passing through at certain times of the year (for example southern right whales from July to November off the south coast of South Africa , to be observed from land)
- are used as winter quarters by baleen whales ( e.g. gray whales , humpback whales , blue whales , fin whales from January to April in the Gulf of California )
In such places, the probability of a whale sighting during a four-hour boat trip is often well over 70 percent at the appropriate times. Some organizers grant customers a viewing guarantee.
Established whale watching sites are
- Valdés ( Argentina ): Southern right whale
- Monterey, California: humpback whales
- Knysna / Hermanus (South Africa): Southern right whale
- Andenes and Stø on Vesterålen , Krøttøya in Troms and Tromsø (Norway)
- Tadoussac on the Saint Lawrence River ( Canada , Province of Québec ): humpback whales, fin whales , minke whales , beluga
- Kaikoura , New Zealand : sperm whales , dolphins
- St. Andrew’s ( New Brunswick ): humpback whales, fin whales, blue whales, minke whales, porpoises
- Azores ( Portugal ): dolphins, sperm whales, pilot whales , killer whales , blue whales
- Canary Islands : dolphins, pilot whales , beaked whales , Bryde's whales
- Tarifa ( Spain ): dolphins, sperm whales, pilot whales, killer whales, fin whales
- Sanctuary of the whales ( France , Italy and Monaco ): dolphins, sperm whales, fin whales
- Reykjavík / Iceland : white-nosed dolphins , porpoises , minke whales , humpback whales , killer whales
- Iceland : dolphins , porpoises , minke whales , humpback whales , killer whales , blue whales , fin whales
- Samana ( Dominican Republic ): humpback whales
- Maui (Hawaii): humpback whales
Finding the animals
For whale watching from the boat, the largest possible area is searched for the duration of the tour. The observers pay attention to the following with the naked eye or a telescope:
- Large flocks of birds ( e.g. yellow-billed shearwaters) circling excitedly. There is usually a school of fish here, where marine mammals (especially dolphins) may hunt.
- The blow of a large whale: When surfacing, the whale expels stale air under high pressure, which condenses into a white cloud and is sometimes visible from nautical miles. Based on the shape of this cloud, the type can be determined or narrowed down.
- White foam caps that always appear in the same place: They are caused by a school of fast-moving dolphins or other toothed whales .
- The backs of the animals themselves: The most striking feature are the dorsal fins ( fins ). They are dark in color in almost all species (with the exception of beluga whales ). Maybe they stand out visibly against the sea surface; In dolphins and pilot whales , the smooth surface of the skin produces bright light reflections from the sun. In addition, toothed whales almost always move in larger schools.
An acoustic cue is the splashing sound ("splash") that a jumping whale makes when it falls back onto the water.
Approaching a school or individual whales
The success of a whale sighting from the boat stands or falls with the experience of the boat operator. In order not to scare the animals off, he approaches them at an angle of about 30 degrees to their direction of pull and adapts the speed of the boat to that of the animals. He takes breaks in shy species. In this way, the animals can continue to pursue their natural behavior without being disturbed. In some countries, the form of approximation described is required by law (see section Legal provisions ); Violations are punished with fines (for example up to 20,000 euros in the Canary Islands).
Often there are social interactions between the whales and the observers:
- After a certain time, the marine mammals often take an interest in the boat and approach of their own free will.
- The whales inspect the boat and its crew. Whales either dive under the boat and use their bio-sonar, or they look with their eyes by turning on their side or by lifting their heads vertically out of the water (so-called “spyhop”, especially with pilot whales ).
- The animals draw attention to themselves and play close to the boat. For example, the animals clap their fins on the water, jump in the air or swim upwards with their belly as a sign of willingness to make contact.
- Some dolphin species (for example, spotted dolphins , bottlenose dolphin ) accompany boats over long distances while surfing on the bow wave.
Swim with whales and dolphins
Dolphin swimming (or, more rarely, swimming with larger whales) is the main attraction offered by some whale watching organizers. For the participants this means an extraordinary experience, as the communication sounds of the whales can be heard well underwater: for example the high whistles of the dolphins or the deep grunting and knocking noises of the baleen whales . In addition, the effect of the powerful biosonar on the skin can clearly be felt as a tingling sensation. Proponents of dolphin therapy assume a healing effect on those affected.
Due to misconduct that occurred in many places on the part of the participants (for example, attempts were made to “ride” on the backs of the animals), dolphin swimming is prohibited by law in many countries or it is only carried out in the company of professional “guides”.
Swimming with whales is not entirely safe for humans. Even small species of dolphins can cause considerable physical damage to humans if they feel harassed. There had been a number of incidents, especially from the 1980s to the turn of the millennium: In Brazil, a swimmer was killed by a bottlenose dolphin near the beach after he had molested him. Off Tenerife, a woman who was stroking a short-finned pilot whale bull was grabbed by the leg and dragged down so that she almost drowned. Since whales can quickly gain depth when diving, serious injuries from the water pressure are also possible in such a situation. Another danger for humans comes from sharks, which - contrary to established beliefs - often stay near dolphin schools. During tank dives , the whales can interpret the air bubbles expelled underwater as a warning or even a threat.
Scientific whale watching
About 50 percent of today's knowledge about whales results from keeping smaller toothed whales in captivity ( dolphinariums ). Knowledge of large whales ( sperm whales , baleen whales ) dates back to the times of commercial whaling and the worldwide distribution of some species (mainly those that avoid shallow coastal waters, e.g. beaked whales ) is primarily documented by whale strandings .
Only recently has whale research ( cetology ) been increasingly based on observations in the field. Both land-based observation posts and boats are used. The photo identification method is mainly used from boats . With the help of recordings of certain parts of the body, especially the dorsal fin ( fin ), individual animals can be recognized as if they were a fingerprint. The photo ID is used, for example, for local populations to investigate population dynamics and habitat requirements. In addition, genetic samples are taken from the animals' skin using a crossbow . In recent years, telemetry has also been used more and more . Here are data logger and GPS transmitter with suction cups on the back of individual animals attached. For example, with the help of this technology, knowledge of the biology and way of life of the short-finned pilot whales was only revolutionized shortly after the turn of the millennium. A Canarian research team had provided the animals with probes to measure speed, diving depth and utterance ( ultrasonic clicks).
The worldwide booming business of whale watching tourism creates a great opportunity for modern cetology . Simple data collection or photographic documentation can be integrated into tourist excursions. Since the 1990s at the latest, commercial providers have been working increasingly with research institutions. In addition, some research teams finance their scientific work through the participation of tourists.
Tourist development of whale watching
Commercial whale watching began in California in 1955 . Up until 1982, there were only twelve countries, mainly in the United States and Canada , that offered whale watching tours on a permanent basis. By 1992, commercial whale watching was offered in 45 countries and territories. The number of whale watchers at the time was 4.5 million. In 1995 there were already 65 countries / territories and 5.4 million whale watchers.
The last comprehensive survey of the global whale watching business in 2001 showed that the development has continued practically unchecked and that an industry of its own has now emerged. Average global growth even increased slightly towards the end of the 1990s, averaging 12.1 percent from 1991 to 1998. (Individual continents and nations showed growth rates of over 200% in certain years). The industry grew three to four times as fast as tourism as a whole, making it the fastest growing tourism branch. The number of whale watchers was estimated at nine million in 1998 and at least twelve million in 2002.
The number of countries offering whale watching has risen to over 87 today, and whale watching is possible in around 500 locations. Whale watching has grown into a global business with revenues of billions of dollars.
Whale watching in Tadoussac, Canada
Impact of whale watching tourism on whales and dolphins
Short-term effects (engl. Short-term effects ) are all those effects that occur immediately and are therefore in principle be observed:
- Changes in the behavior of the animals, e.g. changes in swimming speed or direction, longer diving times
- Animals in a group can be separated from each other by boats (especially mothers from their young animals)
- Every boat with a motor is also an acoustic disruptive factor, the noise emitted under water can impair communication between the animals.
- Risk of collision between ships and whales and risk of injury from propellers
- Possible transmission of diseases from humans to animals (especially when swimming with dolphins)
Exaggerated depictions of the animals in the run-up to a tour lead to certain expectations among tourists. These expectations create pressure on the provider to meet these expectations. This in turn often leads to reckless behavior towards the animals (for example, non-compliance with minimum distances).
Long-term effects (engl. Long-term effects ) are sometimes only after years or decades:
- Constant pressure and / or noise leads to stress.
- Stress leads to an increased susceptibility to diseases and infections.
- Reduction in the rate of reproduction
- Population decline
- Shift in the behavioral spectrum of the animals (for example due to the restricted opportunity to search for food or shortened periods of rest)
- Populations are relocating or migrating.
Statutory Regulations
The number of countries that have enacted or are working to introduce whale watching laws is steadily increasing. However, even in Central Europe there are still some nations without such regulations. There are not yet any internationally binding regulations. Neither the EU nor any other multinational organization has dealt in depth with the issue. The introduction of whale watching laws has so far been subject to national, often even federal or territorial authority. The individual legal texts are accordingly diverse. However, there are some characteristic rules such as maintaining a minimum distance (typically 100 meters), a maximum number of boats (typically a maximum of three boats within 300 meters of the animals), a maximum duration of the encounters (for example a maximum of 30 minutes), the obligation to keep the speed of the boats at a low speed and the prohibition of abrupt changes of direction and speed. In some countries it is now also banned to swim with whales.
Where legal regulations have been introduced, there is usually a licensing procedure for providers. Labels or logos can be used to identify authorized providers, for example in the form of a flag or an imprint on the fuselage.
Some providers follow a self-commitment ( Code of ethics ) regardless of whether whale watching tourism is legally regulated in the respective country or not at all.
literature
- M. Carwardine : whales and dolphins. Experienced underwater world. Delius Klasing publishing house, Bielefeld 1996.
- M. Carwardine, E. Hoyt, Ewan Fordyce, R., Gill, P .: Wale, Delphine & Tümmler. Könemann, Cologne 2000.
- M. Carwardine: Whales and Dolphins in European Waters. Observe, determine, experience. Delius Klasing, Edition Naglschmid, Bielefeld 2003.
- Silvia Frey : Whale watching - responsibly and carefully. Report from OceanCare , Switzerland, 2003.
- P. Gill, C. Burke: Whale Watching in Australian and New Zealand Waters. New Holland Publ., Sydney 1999.
- E. Hoyt: Whale Watching 2001: Worldwide tourism numbers, expenditures, and expanding socioeconomic benefits. International Fund for Animal Welfare. Yarmouth Port, MA, USA 2001. (158 pages)
- E. Hoyt: Whale Watching in Europe. Adviser to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS). With valuable information on most European whale watching providers. 2003.
- IFAW, Tethys Research Institute & Europe Conservation: Report of the workshop on the scientific aspects of whale watching. Montecastello di Vibio, Italy. March 30 - April 4, 1995. (45 pages)
- F. Ritter: Whale Watching - A Guide to Gentle Whale Watching in Europe and Overseas. (= Outdoor Manual. Volume 25). 2nd, completely revised and updated edition. Conrad Stein Verlag, 2010.
- F. Ritter: Interactions of Cetaceans with Whale Watching Boats - Implications for the Management of Whale Watching Tourism. SEA e. V., Berlin 2003.
- V. Boehlke: Whales and dolphins in the Canary Islands. 1st edition. Natucan Publishing House, Tenerife, Spain 2006.
- M. Scheer, B. Hofmann, IP Behr: Interactions between whale watching vessels and short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) off the sw coast of Tenerife, Canary Islands: behavioral implications. La Laguna, Tenerife 1998.
