Whale watching: more than meets the eyes
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Published source details
Harms M., Asmutis-Silvia R. & Rosner A. (2013) Whale watching: more than meets the eyes. Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) report, WDC Report to NOAA’s Fisheries Northeast Region Program Office (NERO), Award Number NA11NMF4720240, 113pp.
Published source details Harms M., Asmutis-Silvia R. & Rosner A. (2013) Whale watching: more than meets the eyes. Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) report, WDC Report to NOAA’s Fisheries Northeast Region Program Office (NERO), Award Number NA11NMF4720240, 113pp.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
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Educate the public to improve behaviour towards marine and freshwater mammals Action Link |
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Educate the public to improve behaviour towards marine and freshwater mammals
A before-and-after study in 2011 of whale-watching tours in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Massachusetts, USA (Harms et al. 2013) found that after educational tours, 40 of 544 (7%) participants were more willing to change their behaviour to support marine conservation than before the tours. After the tours, 40 of 544 participants (7%) stated that they were more willing to change their behaviour to protect the marine environment and/or contribute money to support marine conservation than before the tours. A total of 486 participants (89%) stated that their willingness to change their behaviour had not changed, and 18 participants (3%) were less willing to change their behaviour. A total of 544 tourists completed questionnaires before and after whale-watching tours in June–August 2011. Two tour operators conducted the tours, each with 1–2 vessels running 2–3 trips/day. Three statements in the questionnaire assessed behavioural intentions (actual behavioural change was not assessed).
(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)
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