Is Whale Watching Ethical? The Trick to Responsible Tours
A few years ago, a ban on whale watching was being considered in a very particular corner of the USA to protect the dwindling killer whale population. The ban was not given the green light, but it does pose an interesting question.
To even consider banning whale watching as a conservation technique implies that there are detrimental effects to the practice. Does that mean whale watching isn’t ethical, and we’re just observing these animals at the cost of their welfare?
The Big Problem With Unethical Whale Watching
There is a case to be made that whale watching is physically harmful to whales. We’ve seen many cases of whales injured or even killed after being struck by boats.
However, this is not exclusive to whale watching boats, and is a hazard of general shipping activities. Whale watching boats are also seeking to observe whales as a commercial activity, so even those who don’t follow the best code of ethics generally avoid behaviour that would physically harm a whale, because that would harm business.
The biggest threat to whales from whale watching does not come from contact with boats, but the disruption they cause.
Whale Watching Can Disrupt Behaviour
Modern motorboats are loud both above and below the surface. This type of noise pollution can be bothersome for whales, which can disturb their rest and interrupt feeding habits. They may seek to escape the noise, also causing them to leave their normal habitat. Any deviation from a normal behaviour pattern is not an ethical encounter.
Ethical encounters are passive experiences where the animal is free to do whatever they like, as if you weren’t there.
Is Whale Watching Not Ethical?
One-off encounters with a single motorboat aren’t going to really upset the animals. If you’ve been on whale watching trips before, you’ve probably experienced whales lazily bobbing around in the water paying you very little attention, or even getting closer for a curious look.
But imagine that you’re not the first boat, but the twelfth of the day, with another five around you. Whale watching becomes a problem when it becomes extreme. When it’s not just you, the whale and the deep blue, but you, the whale, the deep blue and three-hundred other people crammed around a single animal.
How to Ensure Your Whale Watching is an Ethical Experience
It’s really not difficult to have an ethical whale watching encounter. You just have to be prepared to do a few things:
Your research - Look for whale watching tour operators that preach conservation and have links to charities. You want to be out on a tour with a whale enthusiast that loves these animals more than you; somebody who is more interested in their welfare than a decent picture.
Follow the Rules - Most countries have clear guidelines on whale watching, which includes stopping distances, not moving in front of whales to block their path, and turning off motors if there are whales in the area. If your guides aren’t following the rules, call them out on it. They don’t want bad reviews or complaints, so they should listen. Even if they do change their behaviour, we still recommend you report them to wildlife authorities, as next time there may not be anyone so thoughtful onboard.
View from a Distance - The dream encounter with a whale is up close and personal but forcing yourself into their world is not ethical. You’ve got to be prepared to not get close. To view from a safe distance and allow the animal to approach if it wants to, and swim away if it doesn’t.
Move On - If whales are in the area but are being elusive and moving off quickly when you arrive, ask your tour operator not to chase them and instead look for other whales. Whales will often rest on the surface before diving, which means if they’re quick to disappear, they’re probably trying to get away from you.
Avoid Crowds - Lots of boats crowded around a few animals? This is the worst kind of experience for a whale. Imagine you’re a celebrity constantly being followed by paparazzi. Leave the animals to have some space and search for others that aren’t so closely followed.
No Rules? Make Them! - Not all countries have rules on whale watching, particularly emerging economies where whale watching is still a new activity. In these locations, it’s important to find whale watching companies that set their own boundaries on animal welfare. If operators don’t make any mention of whale wellbeing in their marketing materials or on their website (if available) then be very cautious. This doesn’t mean they aren’t ethical, but in this situation, it’s important to talk to them about it.*
Go Quiet - Sailboats and kayaks aren’t as fast as motorboats, and they might not offer the same guarantees of sightings given their limitations, but since they’re much quieter than motors, they’re also much less likely to disrupt whales. When possible, choose noise-limiting options for whale watching.
Go Private - Not always an option, and often budget restrictive, but if you can, take a private tour instead of a group encounter. Why? Simply because you’ll have more control of what goes on, and can influence the way in which the animals are engaged with much more.
*Want to make sure you’re not going to end up on a packed boat chasing down whales for hours on end without a care for anything other than getting so close you can touch the animal? Don’t ask loaded questions. If you say, is this an ethical experience? or do you keep the whales safe? The operator is going to tell you what you want to hear to sell you a place on the boat. Instead, try questions like how close will we get? Or can I touch the whales? Again, if they’re saying things they think you want to hear, like we’ll get very close and yes you can touch them, then you know these are not whale watching operators to support.
Enjoy Your Ethical Whale Watching
At Xplore Our Planet, we love whale watching. We love it so much we put together our top list of the best whale watching in the world. There are so many reasons to adore ethical whale watching, from boosting local economies that support whale conservation to educating people on the value of these animals, whale watching means these amazing animals remain in the spotlight. Whale watching has also been acknowledged as being significantly important in the documentation and study of animals for the purposes of conservation, as whale watching guides often record sightings, specific animals present, and behavioural patterns, all of which can help researchers and scientists build up vital pictures of populations and animal health.
So, you don’t need to feel guilty about boarding a boat and setting off to see wild whales, just keep in mind that you’re not invisible and that your presence does have a consequence.
Imagine yourself like a buzzy bee and the whale a person:
Some people will freak out and run away. You’d be best to leave them alone.
Some people won’t be bothered, and just keep doing their own thing.
Some - rare - people might be curious and want to get a closer look at you.
But nobody is going to be happy with an entire swarm of buzzy bees flying around them that won’t leave them alone. They’ll run away and leave their picnic, or stop snoozing after a hard days work.
Don’t be an annoying buzzy bee.
