Over the last 10
years, Digby Neck and the Islands have seen the
number of whale watching tour operators increase.
During the season ending in 1997, there were 11 agencies
operating in the area compared to one a decade ago.
There is a lot of interest
in viewing these great mammals, but it comes with
some concern that this industry may be disturbing the
whales in their natural habitat by overcrowding and
accidents with boats.
The Department of
Fisheries and Oceans through the Fisheries Act,
prohibits any form
of harassment of cetaceans
(dolphins and whales). This includes repeated
attempts to herd, pursue, or disperse them, and any
intentional act of negligence resulting in the
disruption of their normal behaviour. There are no
provincial or federal licensing requirements for
whale watching operators and there does not appear to be one planned in the near future.
This situation has prompted a voluntary
movement to create a code of ethics by the whale
watching operators themselves.
The code of ethics was drafted in 1995 and signed in 1996 by all whale
tour operators in the Lower Bay of Fundy region, with 1997 being the
first full year this code has been in place.
Code
of Ethics
Bay
of Fundy Marine Tour Operators
The purpose of this
code is to foster an environment of co-operation and
trust among marine tour operators for the protection
and safety of the whales and other marine wildlife,
and the safety and understanding of their passengers.
We agree to abide by
this code for the protection and preservation of
whales within our waters.
Definitions:
A vessel will be defined as either a motorized vessel
or a kayak group. A kayak group is defined as no more
than 10 kayaks paddling in a co-ordinated group.
We agree that the
first vessel to locate a whale or group of whales
will have first viewing priority. The vessel is under
no obligation to announce the location of the whales
to other operators. We agree that no more than two
vessels will view a whale or group of whales at a
distance within 100 m of the whale or group. If the
whales are travelling, the viewing vessels will
maintain a respectable distance to avoid herding the
animals.
We agree that a
maximum of 30 minutes will be spent viewing a whale
or group of whales if more than two vessels are in
the immediate vicinity. Passengers will be informed
that we are moving off to allow other vessels to view
the whale and that we must avoid crowding the animals
and endangering their safety. Motorized vessels will
also take care not crowd or endanger the safety of
kayakers.
We agree to move off
from any whale that is demonstrating avoidance
behaviour, such as turning away or increasing speed.
We agree that all
operators will stand by on a designated VHF radio
channel for purposes of communication when more than
one vessel is viewing or waiting to view a whale or
group of whales, and we will co-ordinate the selection
of the channel with whale watching vessels from other
areas in the Bay of Fundy.
We agree that
vessels, when approaching another vessel already
engaged in whale watching, will contact that vessel
and arrange viewing priority.
We agree to keep a
fair distance when waiting our turn to view, so as not
to crowd the whale or viewing vessels. While waiting
our turn to view we will engage in other activities
such as sea bird and seal viewing, or conservation
education.
We agree that, when
vessels are stopping to listen for whale blows in the
fog that as a courtesy other vessels in the immediate
vicinity will do the same.
We agree to cover
different areas as much as possible so that not all
vessels will converge on the same location.
We agree that in the
vicinity of fixed fishing gear we will practice
caution to avoid steering or herding whales in the
direction of the gear.
We agree that we
will commit to educating the public and other boat
operators about the conservation of whales and the
preservation of the marine ecosystem. We recognize
that adherence to this code demonstrates our care and
concern for whale conservation.
We agree to
re-assess this code of ethics annually and update as
needed. Dated 17 March 1997.
PUBLICATIONS &
RESOURCES
Land Registration
& Information Service (maps)
396 Main Street
Lawrencetown, NS
B0S 1M0
Tel: (902) 584-2266Nova Scotia Nature Map
Nova Scotia Museum
Wildlife
of Nova Scotia
Julie Towers
Dept of Natural Resources
Department of
Natural Resources
(Has a list of licensed guides)
Elliott Road.
PO Box 130
Lawrencetown, NS
B0S 1M0
Tel: (902) 584-2229
Natural
History of Nova Scotia
Vol 1 & 2
Nimbus/Nova Scotia Museum
Mariner
Cruises
Penny Graham
P.O. Box 1264, Water Street,
Westport, Brier Island, NS
B0V 1H0
Phone: (902)839-2581
Phone: (902)839-2346
Phone: 1-800-239-2189
Fax: (902)839-2070
Email: mariner@valleyweb.com
http://www.valleyweb.com/mariner/
Cruises daily June to October
Freeport
Whale & Seabird Tours
Captain T. Crocker
RR#1 Freeport, Long Island, NS
B0V 1B0
Phone: (902)839-2177
Fax: (902)839-2213
E-mail freeport@marina.istar.ca
http://www.tartannet.ns.ca/freepor.html
Brier
Island Whale & Seabird Cruises
Harold Graham
Westport, Brier Island, NS
B0V 1H0
Phone: (902)839-2995
Phone: 1-800-656-3660
Email: brierisl@clan.TartanNet.ns.ca
http://www.valleyweb.com/brierisland/
Slocum's
Whale and Deep Sea
Westport, Brier Island, NS
B0V 1H0
(902)839-2110
Westport
Whale Watch Ltd.
Carl Haycock
Westport, Brier Island, NS
B0V 1H0
(902)839-2467
http://www.tartannet.ns.ca/bios.html
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Nova Scotia Government
Bookstore
1700
Granville St.
PO Box 637
Halifax, NS
B3J 2T3
Tel: (902) 424-7580
Online CatalogueSummer Nature
Notes
Merrit Gibson
Whales of
the Bay of Fundy
Tim Beaty
Belliveau
Cove Eco-Tours
RR1 PO Box 83
Church Point, NS
B0W 1M0
Tel: (902) 837-1056
Pirates
Cove Whale Cruises Ltd.
established 1990
Box 624, Tiverton, Long Island, NS
B0V 1G0
Tel: (902)839-2242
Fax: (902)839-2271
Toll Free: 1-888-480-0004
E-mail pirates@valleyweb.com
http://www.valleyweb.com/pirates/
Reservations preferred, bus tours welcome
Bay to
Bay Adventures
Little River, Digby County, NS
B0V 1C0
Phone: (902)834-2618
Fax: (902)834-2939
Email: baytobay@valleyweb.com
http://www.valleyweb.com/baytobay/
Ocean
Explorations Zodiac
Whale Cruises
Box 719 Tiverton, NS
B0V 1G0
Phone: (902)839-2417
Email: oceanexp@atcon.com
Cruises July to September
Petite
Passage Whale Watch
Diane Theriault
East Ferry, NS
B0V 1A0
(902)834-2226
Whale of
a Time Sea Adventures
Little River, NS
B0V 1C0
(902)834-2867
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