Whale watching - yes? No? Maybe?
Should one now? Or would you rather not? Are we disturbing? Or are we even wanted and expected?
Questions that may never be fully answered. We're talking about whale and dolphin watching tours. Thoughts on this from Susanne Braack, OCEANO MEERZEIT Reisen :
To anticipate it. My personal answer to this question: YES, we should go out to sea and meet dolphins and whales!
When I refer to whale watching, I always start from a respectful whale watching and not a mass tourist “I don't care about the animals - this is all about business ” attitude.
The small problem with watching dolphins and whales is that these elegant and graceful animals have decided to move their habitat from land back into the water, i.e. into the sea. The result of a good 15 million years of evolutionary process often leaves us today ecstatic, beaming with joy, deeply touched and impressed - mostly on a boat - back.
Dolphins and whales - fascinating marine mammals - attract millions of people to the sea every year. While for many it's not only pleasant to get out on a rocking boat, they do. And it makes it clear - we live in different elements. We can only visit the marine mammals temporarily - the sea is not our home. And the marine animals should better refrain from visiting us, because strandings often end with the death of the animals.
The new German and cross-lingual word “whale watching” began in California, where fishermen took guests out to sea for the first time in the 1950s to encounter migrating gray whales. At the end of the 1990s “whale watching” became a new booming tourism branch. There are now around 20 million people a year in over 90 countries who dare to try this.
Yes, and should you do it now?
It is clear that when we go to sea, we have an influence!
We can't pretend we don't exist with the boat.
We are heard . As I said, you have to be aware that our presence will be noticed - marine mammals live in a world of sounds. And the behavior and driving style of the boats out there counts again and again on every single trip around the globe.
Am I a polite guest or a pain in the ass?
What we should pay attention to - and e.g. Canarian WW regulations also prescribe this - that our influence is as low as possible and that we behave in a predictable manner. In short, respectful whale watching is for me: We are guests and the whales and dolphins are the hosts.
We move in your dining room and bedroom , in your living room. What do we expect from guests in our apartment? It goes without saying that they first knock politely and don't fall into the house with the door. We expect them to behave appropriately - then they are also welcome.
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Important aspects and rules of conduct when watching dolphins and whales are:
Stay on course - be predictable.
Let the animals come. They get in touch when they feel like it and are not otherwise busy.
Drive particularly carefully and carefully when calves and young animals are around.
Depending on the situation - switch off the engine of the boat. Wonderful the silence on the sea and that powerful breathing sounds of the lung breathers!
After a nice encounter, you can let go again and continue driving. If we notice that we are not wanted: keep going!
(I don't even mention something like mother and calf not to be separated, etc., because it is so clear and obvious to me and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end when I imagine it ...)
Very important factor: How many boats are in the vicinity and do they talk to each other over the radio?
When whale watching laws were first introduced in the Canary Islands in 1996 , dolphins were not allowed to ride in the bow wave. However, they did not know that. The boats got the ticket if they were caught with dolphins in the bow wave!
After a few years the laws were adjusted when it became clear that such a regulation was impractical because the dolphins seek contact. What they do with large whales, they also like with boats ...
My personal opinion: Whale and dolphin watching gives us so much, it is so valuable for the marine environment and environmental education at its best if we behave out there!
Sure, as a guest you have to confide in the respective boat crew and put out feelers for a respectful provider .
Furthermore, I am convinced that the protests against whaling and annual, barbaric mass killing of dolphins and whales (Japan: Taiji Bay and on the Faroe Islands) and the efforts to protect the seas would not have such a large lobby if it were whale watching would not exist.
And yes, it is also true, this lobby is still too small for my taste - in view of the economically motivated interests that pollute the seas and the exploitative, as if there is no tomorrow, industrial fishing. Not to mention the noise pollution of the world's oceans from the increasing freight traffic in the course of globalization.
Here, too, we are thrown back on ourselves: How do I behave every day?
Swim with dolphins?
And how about swimming with dolphins ? This is also a controversial topic. Leading protection organizations are also strictly against it.
We offer trips to meet dolphins and whales . My personal opinion is that as swimmers in the water we have a lot less influence than boats. Often we have to notice how slowly and inelegantly we move in their element that is simply not our home.
Dolphin swimming yes - for me only in the wild under suitable circumstances - I would never go into a pool with dolphins. Certainly not in a petting pool with dolphins. Here, too, it is important to put out feelers to a responsible and respectfully working provider.
Swimming with whales?
Swimming with whales - mostly humpback whales - is only possible in very few countries and here it is of course always necessary to entrust yourself to an experienced local tour operator who adheres to the local regulations. During our travels I noticed that the guides and captains often have more experience than researchers who are only on site for a short time. In my experience, the "locals" have an unbelievable wealth of experience and a keen sense of the daily encounters with the giants of the seas.
In the swimming context, too, it is about respectful behavior : I am the guest and the dolphins are the hosts. You decide whether there is contact.
Important are: Safe accompanying circumstances. Well-prepared swimmers in the water with a receptive attitude. Respect and receptivity are the order of the day - they are powerful animals!
Then this experience can be unique or life-changing. What a graceful sight to see a small school of dolphins or a humpback whale in the beautiful blue of the sea - and to hear them if necessary.
Dolphinariums?
To be clear: I'm not a fan of dolphinariums , especially not of orcas in captivity, and I don't have to swim with dolphins at all costs (I've already got out of the water when I had the feeling there are too many Swimmers in the water and the situation is inappropriate). And it doesn’t have to create a sensation for tourists who are spoiled for consumption and who ask after a wonderful whale encounter: “So where are the dolphins?”, But it’s about the flexibility to take nature as it is at the moment shows: Every encounter, every excursion, every day at sea is different and requires us, the boatmen and guides, to behave as appropriately as possible to the respective situation with the dolphins and whales.
Over and over again. There is no silver bullet and nobody is perfect. We are constantly learning new things and gaining experience. In my opinion, the most important thing is the posture and intention with which we move out there, whether as a swimmer or in a boat. What I don't like are researchers who are against dolphin swimming and who are then the first in the water, preferably with a special permit
The real challenges
And while we are asking ourselves such a question: In my opinion, it is more important that we take even more care of the habitat of all sea creatures, use humans as landfills and much more.
And about their basic food sources! Because there is not much fish left in the oceans. Without fish there would be no dolphins and whales - that is a very simple calculation.
Perhaps whale watching is here and there a room for improvement, but marginal disruptive factor in view of the other huge problems in the world's oceans?
I am thinking of Fukushima , for example. How many million liters of radioactively contaminated water flowed and are still flowing into the sea?
Ultimately, the whole Pacific Ocean is at stake. Nobody talks about it, and certainly not the media. Because he's so far away? As is so often the case, I think we should start at the grassroots.
Intact oceans are not only important for marine mammals, but also for us humans and their future generations. They are our livelihood.
How do the marine mammals perceive us? As a disruptive factor ? As a welcome change? We don't know for sure - and at the same time, it is not uncommon for them to behave as if they were looking forward to our visit: friends come over. I've seen it myself too often and all over the world there are numerous examples of interested interspecies encounters: encounters between dolphins / whales and humans. Often the interest doesn't just seem to be on our side. A person who is given such an experience is definitely sensitized to these marine beings and their habitat.
In friendship with dolphins and whales.
Author: Susanne Braack, Oceano Meerzeit Reisen
About the author
Susanne Braack
Susanne Braack, owner of the sustainable tour operator Oceano Meerzeit Reisen, is “THE” dolphin expert, integral coach and, as a tour operator, has been bringing people and marine mammals together in different countries for 26 years. Swimming with dolphins or humpback whales is just as much part of the travel program as exciting whale watching trips to La Gomera. With Susanne you can be sure that all aspects that make a sustainable dolphin journey are taken into account and implemented!
She also gives lectures on social intelligence in the sea and built OCEANO Gomera in 2008….
