Forward

Approaching Cetaceans:

32 ......................................................................................... Zones II: 32 ................................................................................................................. Considerations: 33 ....................................................................................................... References: 34 ............................................................................................................. Documents of Interest: 35.............................................................................................

FORWARD:

The global whale watching industry is worth $2.5 billion US dollars a year and is steadily growing, with a predicted growth of 10% a year, providing more than 19,000 jobs (Cisneros-Montemayor et al., 2010). Unsustainable or poorly managed whale and dolphin watching activities have been shown to negatively impact cetaceans, compromising welfare, and potentially even causing population declines, with likely implications for the health of associated marine ecosystems. By contrast, well managed ecotourism activities strive to prioritise the welfare and conservation of the species they encounter.

The Ocean Research and Conservation Association of Ireland (ORCA Ireland), is a “for-impact” NGO, based in University College Cork (UCC) and is dedicated to monitoring and minimising disturbance to marine megafauna, including cetaceans, through education, research and the latest technologies. Our citizen science programme is facilitated through a novel mobile phone pocket recording tool - the Observers App, available to download for android users on Google Play or from our website: www.orcaireland.org. ORCA Ireland conducts dedicated monitoring of cetaceans with trained volunteer observers and marine biologists working from eco-tour operator platforms across the country. At ORCA Ireland, we advocate sustainable and responsible marine tourism practices across our network of whale watch operators and charter boats, seeking improvements in the welfare of marine megafauna which are exposed to human activities through the growing marine ecotourism industry in Ireland. This has become a large part of the work we do at ORCA Ireland and while we feel we have still work to do, we are confident that these guidelines are moving in the right direction.

As part of our efforts to progressively ensure that any cetacean watching tours carried out in Ireland meet the highest standards of customer care, animal welfare, and education to assist in the assessment and auditing of ‘Best Practices’ standards. Following 24 months of revision and review, including stakeholder consultations with experts worldwide, we are confident that the recommendations in this guide will be adopted widely by the Irish maritime tourism industry. As part of our commitment, ORCA Ireland will be promoting use of the guidelines across our network, and the guide will also be freely available through the ORCA Ireland website.

We hope that these guidelines will make for easy interpretation of international standards, to ensure that people around Ireland can continue to watch these incredible animals in their natural habitats, whilst supporting local communities and contributing to the protection of our oceans.

Warm regards,

Emer Keaveney,

ORCA Ireland Co-Founder & Executive Director.