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Whale watching in the Mediterranean

Whale watching and its issues

Assessment and management of whale watching in the Mediterranean: the work of Souffleurs d’Ecume

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Whale watching and its issues

Whale watching is the action of observing cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) in their natural habitat. Amongst other aspects, it constitutes a large part of the ecotourism industry, which is growing at an exponential and particularly rapid rate in many places around the world: every year, more than a million dollars are generated through this activity. Multiple studies have shown that such development if not kept in check could have serious repercussions on both individual cetaceans and their populations, and therefore eventually on the activity itself. There are numerous consequences that can result from bad whale watching practices such as the disappearance of these animals from certain sectors, the appearance of auditory deficiencies, or even radical behavioural and physiological changes caused by chronic stress.

These effects sometimes lead to a reduced state of health of the populations, meaning a host of problems in terms of conservation, particularly for sensitive populations.

However with the emotional power these animals seem to have over us, the activity of observing cetaceans in their natural habitat brings to our attention the necessity of preserving not only marine mammals, but all species and their habitats, especially when accompanied by a quality awareness message.

Being out in the field, whale watching operators can also be significant assets for research, contributing to a better understanding and therefore protection of cetaceans. Thus whale watching is a valuable tool that offers mutual benefits to cetaceans and the public, while allowing economic development of local communities. In order for these benefits to continue into the long term, and so that it does not become a serious disturbance, regulation of the activity and monitoring of its evolution are essential, as is ensuring that the code of good conduct for approaching cetaceans is respected.

In the Mediterranean, many sites with strong seasonal or permanent abundance of cetaceans are suitable for whale watching, an activity which has been rapidly growing since the 1990’s.


Assessment and management of whale watching in the Mediterranean: the work of Souffleurs d’Ecume

Since 2004, Souffleurs d’Écume has been working on the assessment and management of whale watching in the Mediterranean. The first phase of this work was completed at the request of the French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development. The aim was to catalogue all relevant operators and organisations in the French Mediterranean and to evaluate failings in the application of the code of good conduct with a view to developing management proposals. A data base was thus established which has been regularly updated since then, and is used by the administrative authorities Pelagos and ACCOBAMS.

Following this study, the association produced an evaluation for Pelagos and ACCOBAMS to develop a label applicable initially in France, Italy and Monaco. Their management system aims to promote ecologically responsible activity which is both voluntary and collaborative.

The qualifying requirements for this label are still under discussion, with French, Italian and Monegasque operators and prescribers being consulted. As a rough guide, it will contain the following proposals:

This project must be submitted to the Contracting Parties for their approval at the end of 2007.

In 2007, Souffleurs d’Écume carried out a supplementary study on Corsica on behalf of the Corsica Regional Nature Park and within the framework of the programme LIFE LINDA. Its aim was to study the feasibility of fishing tourism projects, and to evaluate their interest in the conservation of bottlenose dolphins, relating to resource use conflict with artisanal fisheries. Recommendations for satisfactory ecological and socio-economic integration of such projects were proposed.

Reports for these studies are downloadable below.

- Download the Code of Good Conduct for Observation of Mediterranean Cetaceans (French, pdf 238 KB)

Research reports, assessment reports and meeting minutes:

- MAYOL P. & BEAUBRUN P. (2005) - Le whale-watching en Méditerranée Française: état des lieux et perspectives. Recensement des Opérateurs, diagnostic socio-économique et écologique de l’activité, propositions préliminaires de gestion. Report produced by Souffleurs d’Ecume on behalf of MEDD within the framework of the Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean marine mammals. 104 p. (French, pdf 1.9 MB)

- MAYOL P., BEAUBRUN P. DHERMAIN F. & RICHEZ G. (2007) Le whale-watching en Méditerranée: les enjeux d’un développement durable. Espaces tourisme & loisirs 244: 42-54. (French, pdf 223 KB)

- MAYOL P. & GAMBAIANI D. (2007) - Whale-watching et Pescaturismo en Corse: Etat des lieux et propositions de gestion. Mise à jour des connaissances sur le whale-watching, diagnostic des projets de pluriactivité “pêche / tourisme “ intégrant l’observation des cétacés, propositions de gestion intégrées aux impératifs de conservation du Grand dauphin et aux besoins socio-économiques. Report produced on behalf of Corsica Regional Nature Park within the framework of the LIFE LINDA programme. 64 p. + annexes. (French, pdf 3.6 MB)

- PNPC (2007) - Compte-rendu de la réunion des opérateurs et prescripteurs français de whale-watching. Hyères, Friday 2 March 2007. 10 p. (French, pdf 118 KB)

- MAYOL P., BEAUBRUN P. DHERMAIN F. & RICHEZ G. (2007) - Commercial whale watching off the French Mediterranean coast. 59th International Meeting Commission (IWC/59/10), Anchorage, USA, 14 p. (English, pdf 318 KB)

- ACCOBAMS/PELAGOS (2007) - Procès verbal de la réunion des opérateurs et prescripteurs français, italiens et monégasque de whale-watching pour la validation du projet de label. 23 April 2007, Monaco. 24 p. (French, pdf 213 KB)

- MAYOL P. & FORTUNA C. (2007) - Propositions de lignes directrices pour l’obtention d’un Label à destination des opérateurs de whale-watching de la zone Pelagos / ACCOBAMS. ACCOBAMS-MOP3/2007/Doc59 document (presented by France), Dubrovnik (Croatia), 22-25 October 2007, 12 p. + annexes. (French, pdf 243 KB)

- MAYOL P. & WEBER H. (2009) - Le whale-watching en Méditerranée française : mise à jour de la base de données des opérateurs et prescripteurs de whale-watching exerçant en Méditerranée française et au départ de Monaco. Inventory report produced by Souffleurs d'Ecume in collaboration with Corsica Mare Osservazione for the French sector of the Pelagos Sanctuary. 37 p. (French, pdf 512 KB)

Press articles for the general public:

- MAYOL P. (2007) - Nager avec les dauphins: la part du rêve. Océans, 297 (May–June 2007): 34-40. (French, pdf 47 KB)

Practical Guides:

- MAYOL P., FORTUNA C., STURLESE A., BEAUBRUN P. (2009) - Guide pratique à l’usage des opérateurs de whale-watching dans le Sanctuaire Pelagos. Guide produced within the framework of the PELAGOS collaboration (Sanctuary for marine mammals) / ACCOBAMS (Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic Area). Souffleurs d’Ecume Ed. 26 p. (French, pdf 15 MB)

Resolutions adopted by the Parties ACCOBAMS / Pelagos:

- ACCOBAMS (2007) - Résolution 3.23: Observation commerciale des cétacés, vers un label. Document ACCOBAMS-MOP3/2007/Doc44rev1 (presented by France), Dubrovnik (Croatia), 22-25 October 2007, 3 p. (French, pdf 113 KB)

Upcoming projects:

- Whale watching and energy independence: Towards a sustainable and model economy. Preliminary phase to the formation of a working group on alternatives to fossil fuels for the sustainable development of whale watching. (French, pdf 1.9 MB) (English, pdf 1.6 MB)
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