354
For the whale watching activity to become less harmful to the exploited species,
some measures should be implemented.
A concept to be reinforced in the whale watching tourism industry is that the
main motivation of tourists to opt for this activity is not to get as close as possible to
the animal, but to get a better knowledge, observe them in their natural environment
without disturbing them, and receive information on cetaceans and their habitat
(Orams 2000; Andersen and Miller 2006; Oliveira 2007; Filla et al. 2008, 2012;
Lück 2015).
Studies have been conducted in the context of evaluating the satisfaction of the
tourists about the number of boats in the area carrying out the activity and found that
more than two boats approaching the animals have negative influences to the activity (Hoyt 2001; Avila-Foucat et al. 2013). It was observed that with an increase in
the number of boats, there is also an increase in the proportion of dolphins with their
activities interrupted (Stockin et al. 2008), making clear the need to control the
amount of vessels on this activity.
A management plan should include training of operators and travel agents, so
they can know the potential impacts of the activity on dolphin populations and know
how an appropriate procedure can minimize or even avoid impacts over them.
It is recommended the spreading of information on the noise generated by different boats and type of engines, also correlating to its speed, and how each situation
can affect the acoustic ecology of animals, so conductors promotes reduction of
noise aiming at a lower acoustic impact on dolphin populations.
Tosi and Ferreira (2009), evaluated the behavior of Guiana dolphin on the presence of tourism boats in Pipa beach after the creation of a Municipal Coastal
Reserve, a management action proposed by Ferreira et al. (2005), which led to control in the number of tourism boats using the region. The study concluded that a
simple conservation measure such as controlling vessel traffic results in a decrease
of negative behavioral responses, demonstrating the effectiveness of regulations and
supervision in the dolphins’ ecology in areas which whale watching activity is in
development (Tosi and Ferreira 2009) (Fig. 13.29).
In 2008, a proposal to implement a zone with regulation for human activities in
Cananéia estuary was created aiming to the protection of the S. guianensis (Filla
et al. 2008). Initiatives like this are extremely important as an aid in the management of coastal areas.
Thus shows the importance of proper management of the whale watching activity both in the Cananéia estuary and in Pipa beach, so that the conservation of
Guiana dolphin allow that tourism remains an important part of the local economy.
Recordings of dredging activities and wood-barges, both recorded in the
Caravelas estuary, when analyzed showed that the minimum frequency of the
Guiana dolphin’s repertoire (0.18 kHz) is lower than of these anthropic activities
(0.02 kHz) while maximum frequency of the dolphins (24 kHz) is higher than of the
anthropogenic noise (20 kHz).
Martins et al. (2016) in Pipa beach found frequency values of whistles reaching
47.5 kHz, above the limit presented in this study, which shows the possibility of
Guiana dolphin using signals with higher frequencies for communication if they
F. de Sousa Pais et al.
For the whale watching activity to become less harmful to the exploited species,
some measures should be implemented.
A concept to be reinforced in the whale watching tourism industry is that the
main motivation of tourists to opt for this activity is not to get as close as possible to
the animal, but to get a better knowledge, observe them in their natural environment
without disturbing them, and receive information on cetaceans and their habitat
(Orams 2000; Andersen and Miller 2006; Oliveira 2007; Filla et al. 2008, 2012;
Lück 2015).
Studies have been conducted in the context of evaluating the satisfaction of the
tourists about the number of boats in the area carrying out the activity and found that
more than two boats approaching the animals have negative influences to the activity (Hoyt 2001; Avila-Foucat et al. 2013). It was observed that with an increase in
the number of boats, there is also an increase in the proportion of dolphins with their
activities interrupted (Stockin et al. 2008), making clear the need to control the
amount of vessels on this activity.
A management plan should include training of operators and travel agents, so
they can know the potential impacts of the activity on dolphin populations and know
how an appropriate procedure can minimize or even avoid impacts over them.
It is recommended the spreading of information on the noise generated by different boats and type of engines, also correlating to its speed, and how each situation
can affect the acoustic ecology of animals, so conductors promotes reduction of
noise aiming at a lower acoustic impact on dolphin populations.
Tosi and Ferreira (2009), evaluated the behavior of Guiana dolphin on the presence of tourism boats in Pipa beach after the creation of a Municipal Coastal
Reserve, a management action proposed by Ferreira et al. (2005), which led to control in the number of tourism boats using the region. The study concluded that a
simple conservation measure such as controlling vessel traffic results in a decrease
of negative behavioral responses, demonstrating the effectiveness of regulations and
supervision in the dolphins’ ecology in areas which whale watching activity is in
development (Tosi and Ferreira 2009) (Fig. 13.29).
In 2008, a proposal to implement a zone with regulation for human activities in
Cananéia estuary was created aiming to the protection of the S. guianensis (Filla
et al. 2008). Initiatives like this are extremely important as an aid in the management of coastal areas.
Thus shows the importance of proper management of the whale watching activity both in the Cananéia estuary and in Pipa beach, so that the conservation of
Guiana dolphin allow that tourism remains an important part of the local economy.
Recordings of dredging activities and wood-barges, both recorded in the
Caravelas estuary, when analyzed showed that the minimum frequency of the
Guiana dolphin’s repertoire (0.18 kHz) is lower than of these anthropic activities
(0.02 kHz) while maximum frequency of the dolphins (24 kHz) is higher than of the
anthropogenic noise (20 kHz).
Martins et al. (2016) in Pipa beach found frequency values of whistles reaching
47.5 kHz, above the limit presented in this study, which shows the possibility of
Guiana dolphin using signals with higher frequencies for communication if they
F. de Sousa Pais et al.