Assessing Compliance to Guidelines By Dolphin-watching Operators in Clearwater, Florida, USA

Abstract

Numerous studies have quantified the impacts of tourism on marine mammals; however, few studies have investigated tour operators' procedures and their compliance with regulations and guidelines. This study quantifies operator compliance with NOAA guidelines, examines the structure of tour educational programs, and investigates dolphin behavior during encounters between tour vessels and bottlenose dolphins in Clearwater, Florida. During 45 encounters, operators adhered to the guidelines approximately 60% of the time. Operators complied with the viewing time limit but failed to end encounters when dolphins exhibited potential disturbance behaviors. Operators approached dolphins within the 50-yard distance limit and used inappropriate techniques to maneuver around dolphins. The educational programs were unstructured and lacked critical components of effective interpretation programs. Considering these findings, we make suggestions for ways to improve educational programs, increase compliance, and minimize the impacts of tour vessels on dolphins.

Survival rates for a declining population of bottlenose dolphins in Doubtful Sound, New Zealand: an information theoretic approach to assessing the role of human impacts

“…In this respect, it is likely that the current voluntary code of conduct will be ineffective. Voluntary codes of conduct have proven to be ineffective in other locations (Scarpaci et al, 2003(Scarpaci et al, , 2004Whitt and Read, 2006;Wiley et al, 2008), and compliance with the New Zealand Marine Mammal Protection Regulations (MMPR) in Doubtful Sound has been problematic in the past, with the majority of boat interactions violating the MMPR (Lusseau, 2003a). Only rigorous measures will ensure pregnant females and calves are afforded protection from intrusive boat interactions throughout the fjord.…”

Ineffectiveness of a marine sanctuary zone to protect burrunan dolphins (Tursiops australissp.nov.) from commercial tourism in Port Phillip Bay, Australia

“…A sole reliance on education and self-regulation has some merit based on success in several situations (Orams & Hill, 1998;Parsons & Woods-Ballard, 2003), however, Burgess (1992) and others (Dobson, 2006;Rowcliffe, de Meroda, & Cowlishaw, 2004) indicate these management strategies are rarely sufficient to achieve appropriate standards of compliance. Consistent with other wildlife tourism industries (Johnson & AcevedoGutiérrez, 2007;Quiros, 2007;Waayers, Newsome, & Lee, 2006), criticism along these lines has extended to the cetacean-based tourism industry with several studies, including within PPB, documenting unsatisfactory levels of compliance in self-regulated industries and those managed by education (Allen, Smith, Waples, & Harcourt, 2007;Scarpaci, Nugegoda, & Corkeron, 2003Whitt & Read, 2006).…”

Attraction of dwarf minke whalesBalaenoptera acutorostratato vessels and swimmers in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area – the management challenges of an inquisitive whale

“…Passengers still on the boat would be obliged to remain there, sacrificing their leisure activities and creating inevitable dissatisfaction, and potentially jeopardising the success of businesses dependent on customer satisfaction. Thus, there is a clear trade-off between business success and compliance (Scarpaci, Dayanthi, & Corkeron, 2003;Whitt & Read, 2006). Management is compounded by the remoteness of the location (i.e.…”