54
PA established a methodology for registering and monitoring all boats involved in
this activity. Additionally, six area closures were established in the PA, taking into
account scientific and management issues, to allow the monitoring of the short and
long-term effects of boat-based tourism in the PA and the design and implementation of adequate management measures to ensure both the species’ survival and the
sustainability of the whale-watching industry (Palazzo and Groch 2007).
The Abrolhos National Marine Park, in southern Bahia state, is the primary
marine protected area (MPA) for the protection of Brazilian humpbacks. Within the
Park, all vessels are registered and its Management Plan (MP) determines the carrying capacity for some areas of the Park. For example, in the Abrolhos archipelago
and Parcel, the carrying capacity was established at 15 medium-sized boats (35
ft/10 passengers) at any one time, based on the protection offered to the boats by the
southerly and northerly wind anchoring sites (IBAMA 1991). The MP also establishes that each vessel can carry up to 15 adult passengers plus 3 children under the
age of 10 into the Park’s interior. Concerning whale-watching, the MP determines a
carrying capacity of up to three vessels approaching the same group of cetaceans
simultaneously, based on these animals’ susceptibility to stress, particularly of nursing females with calves. However, according to the ordinance IBAMA N° 24, only
two vessels are allowed to approach any group of whales at the same time. Therefore,
the park’s Public Use Plan, currently under discussion, when implemented, will
contain specific rules for the practice of whale-watching (Krob 2003).
The North Coast Continental Shelf Protected Area, in northern Bahia state, was
created in 2003 to promote sustainable economic activities, such as whale-watching
tourism, however, to date, this PA remains unimplemented and without a
Management Plan.
In Brazil, any individual with a certified vessel and appropriate boat handling
qualifications may offer commercial whale-watching tours. There are no restrictions
to new entrants and no regulations relating to the types or numbers of boats used.
This means the range of vessels used and the experience and knowledge of the
operators are highly variable. A study in Australia found that new operators have a
more limited understanding of how to run a ‘good’ whale-watching operation and
are less concerned about the whales themselves than the more experienced operators (Lalime 2005). Similarly, the collaborative relationships that exist in Praia do
Forte between the operators and the Instituto Baleia Jubarte are shaken up every
time a new operator begins whale-watching activities. As a result, the operators
move to a more competitive approach.
With the increasing number of commercial whale-watching operators in Praia do
Forte, management measures need to be implemented in order to mitigate the potential impacts on whales (Fig. 3.8). One such measure is the requirement for permits
to operate whale-watching commercially. The introduction of a permitting system
could be used to manage cumulative effects of increasing vessel numbers and ideally would include training in boat handling around whales for new operators and
refreshment courses for existing ones (Kessler and Harcourt 2013).
To ensure that the current regulations are successful in minimizing harm to the
whales, it is necessary to enhance their enforcement, which is virtually non-existent
L. Fernandes and M.R. Rossi-Santos
PA established a methodology for registering and monitoring all boats involved in
this activity. Additionally, six area closures were established in the PA, taking into
account scientific and management issues, to allow the monitoring of the short and
long-term effects of boat-based tourism in the PA and the design and implementation of adequate management measures to ensure both the species’ survival and the
sustainability of the whale-watching industry (Palazzo and Groch 2007).
The Abrolhos National Marine Park, in southern Bahia state, is the primary
marine protected area (MPA) for the protection of Brazilian humpbacks. Within the
Park, all vessels are registered and its Management Plan (MP) determines the carrying capacity for some areas of the Park. For example, in the Abrolhos archipelago
and Parcel, the carrying capacity was established at 15 medium-sized boats (35
ft/10 passengers) at any one time, based on the protection offered to the boats by the
southerly and northerly wind anchoring sites (IBAMA 1991). The MP also establishes that each vessel can carry up to 15 adult passengers plus 3 children under the
age of 10 into the Park’s interior. Concerning whale-watching, the MP determines a
carrying capacity of up to three vessels approaching the same group of cetaceans
simultaneously, based on these animals’ susceptibility to stress, particularly of nursing females with calves. However, according to the ordinance IBAMA N° 24, only
two vessels are allowed to approach any group of whales at the same time. Therefore,
the park’s Public Use Plan, currently under discussion, when implemented, will
contain specific rules for the practice of whale-watching (Krob 2003).
The North Coast Continental Shelf Protected Area, in northern Bahia state, was
created in 2003 to promote sustainable economic activities, such as whale-watching
tourism, however, to date, this PA remains unimplemented and without a
Management Plan.
In Brazil, any individual with a certified vessel and appropriate boat handling
qualifications may offer commercial whale-watching tours. There are no restrictions
to new entrants and no regulations relating to the types or numbers of boats used.
This means the range of vessels used and the experience and knowledge of the
operators are highly variable. A study in Australia found that new operators have a
more limited understanding of how to run a ‘good’ whale-watching operation and
are less concerned about the whales themselves than the more experienced operators (Lalime 2005). Similarly, the collaborative relationships that exist in Praia do
Forte between the operators and the Instituto Baleia Jubarte are shaken up every
time a new operator begins whale-watching activities. As a result, the operators
move to a more competitive approach.
With the increasing number of commercial whale-watching operators in Praia do
Forte, management measures need to be implemented in order to mitigate the potential impacts on whales (Fig. 3.8). One such measure is the requirement for permits
to operate whale-watching commercially. The introduction of a permitting system
could be used to manage cumulative effects of increasing vessel numbers and ideally would include training in boat handling around whales for new operators and
refreshment courses for existing ones (Kessler and Harcourt 2013).
To ensure that the current regulations are successful in minimizing harm to the
whales, it is necessary to enhance their enforcement, which is virtually non-existent
L. Fernandes and M.R. Rossi-Santos