Case Study - Network for Business Sustainability

Engaging the Community: A Knowledge Project
“There are people who drop money in The Whale Museum because they sign up on one of these
trips. I think there would not be all this thought and protection if there had not been whale
watching tours.”
Conclusion
The purpose of the WWOANW guidelines and managing practices is to protect killer whales while
providing opportunities for the public to observe them in their natural habitat rather than in an
aquarium or zoo. While there are legitimate concerns about the rapid growth of whale watch touring
and a need for monitoring and proper management, the tour operators and drivers feel they are
working to make whale watching safe for whales in the long term so that this form of eco-tourism may
be enjoyed by future generations. The Best Practices Guidelines developed by the industry are a positive
factor in the conservation of killer whales.
If it were not for the steps taken by the industry, an effective form of management might not be in
place. DFO (Pacific Region) continues to perform an important monitoring role with respect to potential
instances of harassment, which is prohibited by regulations under the Fisheries Act. However, it
continues to provide support to the industry rather than assuming regulatory control. As a result, DFO
(Pacific Region) has recognized the guidelines as a suitable model as evidenced by their participation
with WWOANW to design programs that may increase compliance. Though private recreational boaters
and non-member touring companies or individuals are not subject to the guidelines, member operators,
Soundwatch, and M3 challenge other vessels’ inappropriate behaviour that might be due to ignorance
rather than an intention to harm.
Members of WWOANW take conservation efforts seriously. Their members understand that if there are
no whales, there will be no industry. The whale watcher operators see their role, in part, as introducing
the public to whales and to educate people to be respectful, to take action, and to conserve other
marine species and the environment as a whole. They feel that their tours are an effective way to raise
awareness of killer whales and issues relating to their biology, behaviour, and proper management. As
gatekeepers of the whale watching experience, tour operators are in a unique position to transfer
knowledge to the public about whales, their habitat and ocean conservation. Learning about killer whale
biology and behaviour through the educational content provided on whale tours may encourage greater
public support for whale conservation and their protection from potentially negative impacts.
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