Tens of millions of people will go whale watching this New Year. Seeing these marine giants is a bucket-list topper and a lifelong dream for many to check off. When done right, whale watching can go further than just being a memorable experience. Ethical whale watching can foster environmental stewards and help protect whales in the wild.
The first step to finding an ethical whale-watching experience is to DO YOUR RESEARCH! Finding your perfect fit can be challenging, but worth it for a safe, enjoyable, and educational adventure that treats whales with respect. Search for a company that prioritizes sustainable practices that protect whales first. Not all tours and guides have the whales’ best interests in mind. It’s on you to make the right choice and select an ethical tour that impacts the environment as little as possible. Always look before you book, and make sure to do your research following these six tips for selecting a whale-watching experience.
1.) Put Whales First
We are guests in the ocean and seeing whales in the wild is a privilege. Constant disturbance from humans can negatively affect whale behaviors in feeding, resting, and raising young. Find a tour provider that operates with as little disturbance as possible to the whales. Here are four options to whale watch ethically in San Juan Island, Washington.Your guides should always approach whales slowly, ensuring to not disturb their behaviors. It’s not about getting as close as possible, it’s about being respectful of the whales’ space.
2.) Follow the Rules
Guidelines for ethical whale watching vary from country to country. Some regions where whale watching is popular have regulations in place to protect marine life. While sadly, some areas do not enforce regulations, and others don’t have any laws. Even voluntary guidelines help operators to create sustainable procedures when viewing whales. Quality companies will advertise the guidelines that they follow to ensure whales are not disturbed during their experiences.
3.) Real Life Expectations
Ecotourism providers understand that observing animals in the wild is never a guaranteed experience. Being with a guide that follows ethical whale-watching guidelines often means their boat is kept a certain distance from the whales. On the other hand, unknowing tourists will book tours with the expectation of seeing their favorite documentary scenes unfold before their eyes. Though you might witness some spectacular behaviors, you will never be guaranteed that perfect Instagram shot – whales are far too unpredictable. Instead, center your experience on the beauty of the entire excursion.
4.) Consider Dry Land
Solid ground doesn’t typically come to mind when you think of whale watching, but it should! The least invasive way to watch marine life is from shore. There are plenty of great places around the world where you can watch whales from the coast. In some locations, the whales are even known to swim extremely close to shore, providing onlookers with a thrilling sight from dry land.
5.) Make it Educational
High-quality whale watching tours will have a naturalist that is able to interpret what’s being observed. Ethical whale watching excursions are about much more than just seeing wildlife, they’re about learning along the way. Good guides should be enthusiastic to teach their passengers about saving whales. Oftentimes, vessels will provide interpretive materials on board like identification books for you to browse during your journey. Whale watching should be equal parts educational and equal parts goose-bump moments from wildlife sightings.
6.) Save the Whales
Most ecotourism companies will collaborate with local non-profits and donate a percentage of their revenue to support the conservation efforts. Others will even provide their vessels as a platform for research groups to collect data from. Both are a great indicator you have selected an ethical option that is passionate about protecting whales. These offer passengers a direct means of learning about and supporting the ongoing conservation of whales. Collaborations with conservation organizations strengthen ecotourism practices and are an example of a win-win ethical solution for wildlife, local communities, and the environment.
This New Year, find a company that prioritizes ecotourism practices that help to protect whales. If you’re considering going whale watching in the Pacific Northwest, I recommend checking out these: 4 Ways to Whale Watch Ethically in San Juan Island, Washington. By following these 6 tips you can ensure your experience is safe, educational, enjoyable, and always respectful of the whales. Happy New Year, and cheers to your next Journey for Wildlife!
Yes! Tipping is optional, but very much appreciated. Our Captains are super dedicated and passionate about what they do. Standard tipping for boat charters is 10-20% of the price of the tour which rounds out to $10-$20 per person.
Admiring whales from a distance is the safest and most responsible way to view them in their natural habitat. They are wild, unpredictable animals that can move surprisingly fast. Approaching them too closely endangers you and the whales, and may violate federal law.
You'll be pleased to know that whale watching is a highly regulated activity in Mexico. There are certain rules and guidelines that must be adhered to to ensure the humpback individual whales' protection, as well as the survival of the species.
Yes, of course you can. Imagine if all your favourite nature documentaries were produced through activity that brought harm to whales. David Attenborough would go from National Treasure to World's Most Wanted. You can swim with whales ethically, but only if you do it right.
The Animal Welfare Institute believes all whaling to be inherently cruel. Even the most advanced whaling methods cannot guarantee an instantaneous death or ensure that struck animals are rendered insensible to pain and distress before they die, as is the generally accepted standard for domestic food animals.
Orange County offers more than just the whale watching it is famous for. Our scenic waters are teeming with so many different types of wild sea creatures, sharks, dolphins, and whales that you never know what you may encounter during your whale watching trip.
Fortunately, the sounds that come from the engines of whale watching vessels do not cause hearing damage or disturbance to the animals. And even though ocean noise is a threat to marine mammals, this is primarily referring to other human-related festivities such as military sonar.
After surveying whale watching passengers before, after, and six-months after their whale watching trip, the responses indicated that people who go on whale watching trips come away with a greater understanding of whales and are more likely to support protection of these species.
It is also best not to touch or feed them as doing so may cause stress to the mammal. Despite being known as “killer” whales, orcas follow a fixed menu of aquatic mammals, fish, and squid. So, the chances of orcas attacking humans are very slim, if not nil.
At sites where the whales or dolphins targeted for tourism have no alternative locations for important biological functions like feeding or resting, animals may be at greater risk of serious “energetic costs”, by being distracted from these behaviours, as well as increased stress levels from the continual presence of ...
Respect the whale's behavior and keep your distance. Cautious boaters may get to see exciting natural behaviors. Enjoy the whales; don't endanger them or yourself.
Gray whales are known to be very curious and inquisitive, giving them reputation of being the “friendly” whale. They often swim right up to boats and poke their heads vertically out of the water to get a better view of their surroundings in a behavior called spyhopping.
The short answer is yes - when it's done right, absolutely. But the truth is, not all whale shark tourism has these creatures' best interests in mind, let alone the environment. Before you book your whale shark experience - it's important to check that the swim is both ethical and environmentally sustainable.
Bondy, who has studied gray whales for decades, said picking parasites like barnacles off whales could hurt them because of their extremely thin and sensitive skin. "People think the whales have got that big layer of blubber, that they don't feel anything, but that's not true," she said.
The claim that whaling is immoral based on the lack of shared food habits is merely a reflection of a specific value. Nevertheless, provocative words, such as bloodbath, barbaric and cruel practice, are often used to criticize whaling and to justify their position against whaling.
Why is this important? Whale watching is usually perceived as an 'eco-friendly' venture – an activity that gives value to whales as one of nature's spectacles for humans to enjoy, and that can contribute to local communities and economies.
The short answer is yes, whale watching tours can be safe. However, as with any outdoor activity, there are risks involved. It's important to understand these risks and take necessary precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Introduction: My name is Twana Towne Ret, I am a famous, talented, joyous, perfect, powerful, inquisitive, lovely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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