Unsustainable Dolphin-watching Tourism in Fiordland, New Zealand

Abstract

Bottlenose dolphins are a key resource of the tourism industry in Fiordland and are used on a daily basis by the tour operators offering cruises on the fiords. Recent studies have shown that the current levels of dolphin–boat interactions in this region cannot be sustained by bottlenose dolphins. Interactions have both short- and long-term effects on both individuals and their populations. Population models indicate that these effects may be affecting the viability of the three bottlenose dolphin populations living in Fiordland. We are currently observing drastic changes in the bottlenose dolphin population living in Doubtful Sound, which can be linked to the level of boat interactions to which they are currently exposed. The creation of a multilevel marine mammal sanctuary would help minimize dolphin–boat interactions and still allow for some further growth in the tourism sector in Fiordland.

Abundance and demography of bottlenose dolphins in Dusky Sound, New Zealand, inferred from dorsal fin photographs

“…data) and hence may have joined the population. Current evidence suggests the Dusky Sound population experiences the least human impact of the dolphin populations in Fiordland (Lusseau et al 2006). The lower levels of impact may mean that individuals immigrating to Dusky Sound have a higher chance of survival and successfully joining the new population, compared with those emigrating to join the northern population.…”

“…Preliminary modelling of a long-term data set suaaests that this decline occurred around 2002 Fiordland, New Zealand. and that current levels of calf survival are, to our knowledge, the lowest calf survival rates reported in the literature (Currey et al 2008). The rate of decline in abundance and survival is unsustainable and long-term viability of the population is threatened (Lusseau et al 2006;Currey et al 2007Currey et al , 2008.…”

Ecotourism rise hits whales

“…But Lusseau's group has also shown that the bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) in Doubtful Sound, New Zealand, could be driven to extinction in decades 2 . The large number of dolphin-watching trips in the sound is driving the animals away from their preferred areas and forcing them to avoid boats instead of feeding.…”

An integrated and adaptive management model to address the long-term sustainability of tourist interactions with cetaceans

“…The potential impact of whale-watching has been studied for more than twenty years (Baker & Herman 1989;Corkeron 2004) and a wide variety of short-term effects have been detected (for example Bejder et al 1999;Au & Green 2000;Nowacek et al 2001;Van Parijs & Corkeron 2001;Williams et al 2002;Hastie et al 2003;Lusseau et al 2006). These include changes in vocalization and respiration patterns, variations in path directedness and other short-term behavioural alterations resulting from apparent horizontal and vertical avoidance tactics (Frid & Dill 2002).…”