61
CC. Finally, the management CC, translated into a permit scheme, limited permits
or permit conditions, for example, affect the economic CC and the social CC. All
four elements of CC and the interactions amongst them must be considered when
assessing the carrying capacity of whale-watching in a specific location.
3.7 Discussion
Currently all five companies operating whale-watching in Praia do Forte have voluntary cooperation agreements with the Instituto Baleia Jubarte (IBJ) for the provision of specific training for their staff, interpretative information for their tourists,
monitoring and collection of scientific data on-board their vessels (Fig. 3.11). This
agreement also involves the operators making a financial contribution to support the
research and conservation activities developed by IBJ.
The Instituto Baleia Jubarte has been monitoring visitor profile and feedback
since 2003 by means of questionnaires answered voluntarily by the tourists on the
return from their whale-watching trips. In 2015, 50% of tourists interviewed stated
the experience fully satisfied their expectations and 96% said they would go whalewatching in Praia do Forte again in the future. Additionally, when asked to rate
different aspects of the operations, 76% rated the boat conduct excellent, 69% rated
the explanations provided boat staff excellent and 69% rated the information provided by the IBJ staff excellent.
For the purpose of this study, in order to characterise the whale-watching activity
in Praia do Forte, the operators were also asked to answer questionnaires. The five
whale-watching operators in Praia do Forte employ a total of 39 permanent staff and
an additional 14 temporary staff during the whale-watching season, of which 26
employees are from the local community. One operator stated that the income from
the whale-watching operation provides full employment year round for all the company’s staff, some of which would be only temporary otherwise.
Fig. 3.11 Instituto Baleia Jubarte provides specific training for whale-watching operator staff (a),
interpretative information for tourists, and monitoring and collection of scientific data on-board
whale-watching vessels (b) (Photos: Enrico Marcovaldi/Instituto Baleia Jubarte)
3 An Integrated Framework to Assess the Carrying Capacity…
CC. Finally, the management CC, translated into a permit scheme, limited permits
or permit conditions, for example, affect the economic CC and the social CC. All
four elements of CC and the interactions amongst them must be considered when
assessing the carrying capacity of whale-watching in a specific location.
3.7 Discussion
Currently all five companies operating whale-watching in Praia do Forte have voluntary cooperation agreements with the Instituto Baleia Jubarte (IBJ) for the provision of specific training for their staff, interpretative information for their tourists,
monitoring and collection of scientific data on-board their vessels (Fig. 3.11). This
agreement also involves the operators making a financial contribution to support the
research and conservation activities developed by IBJ.
The Instituto Baleia Jubarte has been monitoring visitor profile and feedback
since 2003 by means of questionnaires answered voluntarily by the tourists on the
return from their whale-watching trips. In 2015, 50% of tourists interviewed stated
the experience fully satisfied their expectations and 96% said they would go whalewatching in Praia do Forte again in the future. Additionally, when asked to rate
different aspects of the operations, 76% rated the boat conduct excellent, 69% rated
the explanations provided boat staff excellent and 69% rated the information provided by the IBJ staff excellent.
For the purpose of this study, in order to characterise the whale-watching activity
in Praia do Forte, the operators were also asked to answer questionnaires. The five
whale-watching operators in Praia do Forte employ a total of 39 permanent staff and
an additional 14 temporary staff during the whale-watching season, of which 26
employees are from the local community. One operator stated that the income from
the whale-watching operation provides full employment year round for all the company’s staff, some of which would be only temporary otherwise.
Fig. 3.11 Instituto Baleia Jubarte provides specific training for whale-watching operator staff (a),
interpretative information for tourists, and monitoring and collection of scientific data on-board
whale-watching vessels (b) (Photos: Enrico Marcovaldi/Instituto Baleia Jubarte)
3 An Integrated Framework to Assess the Carrying Capacity…