45
3.2.1 Humpback Whale-Watching in Praia do Forte
The first whale-watching operation in Praia do Forte began in 2001, in a partnership
between the Projeto Baleia Jubarte and a local tourism operator (Cipolotti et al.
2005). Praia do Forte has since become a strong whale-watching destination. This is
partly due to its proximity to the state capital Salvador (55 km), one of the most
sought after tourist destinations in Brazil, and partly because the whales occur very
close to the shore, due to a narrowing of the continental shelf in this region (RossiSantos et al. 2008; Wedekin et al. 2010; Baracho-Neto et al. 2012) (Fig. 3.2). Since
then, the activity has spread along the coast of Bahia and is now carried out in more
than ten localities, however, Praia do Forte is where the activity has shown the fastest growth in recent years (Brumatti 2008).
Additionally, the northern coast of Bahia is considered to have the greatest tourism development potential in the state (Limonad 2007). Increasing visitation to
Praia do Forte in the coming years is thus very likely to increase the demand for
whale-watching and, consequently, the number of operators, creating the need to
manage the number of whale-watching boats operating in the area in order to avoid
biological damage to the whale population and maintain tourist satisfaction.
In 2003, the North Coast Continental Shelf Protected Area (Área de Proteção
Ambiental da Plataforma Continental do Litoral Norte) was created to safeguard the
region’s rich marine biodiversity, promote the development of economic activities
within acceptable limits of change of the ecosystems and improve the quality of life
of the coastal communities using the area (Brasil 2003). This Protected Area (PA)
Fig. 3.2 Praia do Forte is an excellent whale-watching destination because humpback whales can
be watched very close to shore, due to a narrowing of the continental shelf in this region and the
whales’ preference for shallower waters (Photo: Luena Fernandes/Instituto Baleia Jubarte)
3 An Integrated Framework to Assess the Carrying Capacity…
3.2.1 Humpback Whale-Watching in Praia do Forte
The first whale-watching operation in Praia do Forte began in 2001, in a partnership
between the Projeto Baleia Jubarte and a local tourism operator (Cipolotti et al.
2005). Praia do Forte has since become a strong whale-watching destination. This is
partly due to its proximity to the state capital Salvador (55 km), one of the most
sought after tourist destinations in Brazil, and partly because the whales occur very
close to the shore, due to a narrowing of the continental shelf in this region (RossiSantos et al. 2008; Wedekin et al. 2010; Baracho-Neto et al. 2012) (Fig. 3.2). Since
then, the activity has spread along the coast of Bahia and is now carried out in more
than ten localities, however, Praia do Forte is where the activity has shown the fastest growth in recent years (Brumatti 2008).
Additionally, the northern coast of Bahia is considered to have the greatest tourism development potential in the state (Limonad 2007). Increasing visitation to
Praia do Forte in the coming years is thus very likely to increase the demand for
whale-watching and, consequently, the number of operators, creating the need to
manage the number of whale-watching boats operating in the area in order to avoid
biological damage to the whale population and maintain tourist satisfaction.
In 2003, the North Coast Continental Shelf Protected Area (Área de Proteção
Ambiental da Plataforma Continental do Litoral Norte) was created to safeguard the
region’s rich marine biodiversity, promote the development of economic activities
within acceptable limits of change of the ecosystems and improve the quality of life
of the coastal communities using the area (Brasil 2003). This Protected Area (PA)
Fig. 3.2 Praia do Forte is an excellent whale-watching destination because humpback whales can
be watched very close to shore, due to a narrowing of the continental shelf in this region and the
whales’ preference for shallower waters (Photo: Luena Fernandes/Instituto Baleia Jubarte)
3 An Integrated Framework to Assess the Carrying Capacity…