47
Between 2001 and 2004, only one operator carried out commercial whalewatching from Praia do Forte. From 2005 onwards, the number of operators gradually increased but varied over the years, oscillating between two and five operators.
In order to characterize the present whale-watching activity in Praia do Forte, operators were asked to answer questionnaires about their operation, results obtained
over the years and their expectations for the future of the activity. During 2016, four
operators offered the activity in Praia do Forte, using a variety of vessels (Fig. 3.5)
and engine types (Table 3.1). The schooners tend to operate one daily trip and the
speedboats two, although, depending on demand, some speedboats make up to three
trips daily. Multiplying the number of boats conducting whale-watching daily (fleet
size) by the usual number of daily trips per boat, the tourism intensity in Praia do
Forte is 13 boat trips per day. According to data provided by the four whale- watching
companies, 284 whale-watching trips were carried out with 3,117 tourists during
the 2015 humpback whale season.
Fig. 3.4 The port of Praia do Forte, northern Bahia, is the departure point for whale-watching
vessels during the humpback whale season (July–October) and an important tourist destination in
northeastern Brazil. The creation of the North Coast Continental Shelf Protected Area in 2003
aimed to protect the region’s rich ecosystems and promote sustainable economic activities, such as
whale-watching tourism (Photo: Enrico Marcovaldi/Instituto Baleia Jubarte)
3 An Integrated Framework to Assess the Carrying Capacity…
Between 2001 and 2004, only one operator carried out commercial whalewatching from Praia do Forte. From 2005 onwards, the number of operators gradually increased but varied over the years, oscillating between two and five operators.
In order to characterize the present whale-watching activity in Praia do Forte, operators were asked to answer questionnaires about their operation, results obtained
over the years and their expectations for the future of the activity. During 2016, four
operators offered the activity in Praia do Forte, using a variety of vessels (Fig. 3.5)
and engine types (Table 3.1). The schooners tend to operate one daily trip and the
speedboats two, although, depending on demand, some speedboats make up to three
trips daily. Multiplying the number of boats conducting whale-watching daily (fleet
size) by the usual number of daily trips per boat, the tourism intensity in Praia do
Forte is 13 boat trips per day. According to data provided by the four whale- watching
companies, 284 whale-watching trips were carried out with 3,117 tourists during
the 2015 humpback whale season.
Fig. 3.4 The port of Praia do Forte, northern Bahia, is the departure point for whale-watching
vessels during the humpback whale season (July–October) and an important tourist destination in
northeastern Brazil. The creation of the North Coast Continental Shelf Protected Area in 2003
aimed to protect the region’s rich ecosystems and promote sustainable economic activities, such as
whale-watching tourism (Photo: Enrico Marcovaldi/Instituto Baleia Jubarte)
3 An Integrated Framework to Assess the Carrying Capacity…