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Dwarf Minke Whale BiologyRESEARCH
PUBLICATIONSArnold PW. 1998. Occurrence of dwarf minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) on the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn 47: 419-424. Arnold PW, Birtles RA. 1999. Towards sustainable management of the developing dwarf minke whale tourism industry in northern Queensland. CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd Technical Report No. 27. Townsville: CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd, 30pp. Birtles RA, Arnold PW. 2000. Commercial swim program with dwarf minke whales Balaenoptera acutorostrata sensu lato on the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia: a case study. SC/52/WW13 (presented to Scientific Committee, International Whaling Commission, Adelaide, June, 2000). Birtles RA, Valentine PS, Curnock MI, Arnold PW, Dunstan AJ. (expected 2001). Incorporating research on visitor experiences into ecologically sustainable management of dwarf minke whale tourism in the northern Great Barrier Reef. CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd Technical Report, Townsville CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd. CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND POSTERSSpatial and temporal patterns of dwarf minke whales involved in commercial swim programs on the Great Barrier Reef and their implications for ecologically sustainable management. Alastair Birtles1,2; Peter Arnold 3; Andy Dunstan 4; Monique Matthews 4 1. Tourism Program, Western Campus,
James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Concerns continue to be expressed about swim with wild cetaceans programs, with calls that they be further assessed on a case by case basis. A recent IWC workshop on the long-term effects of whalewatching agreed that in such assessments it was important to focus on biologically significant effects arising from such activities. Among other information, this requires knowledge of the time spent by whales in areas where such activities occur and thus their exposure to any potentially negative effects. Since 1996, we have been studying dwarf minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) which form the basis of swim with whales programs in the Cairns section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Based primarily on our photo-identification studies and underwater observations, we present some preliminary information on spatial distribution of whales (on scales of kilometres to 100s of kilometres) and seasonality of occurrence, as well as re-sightings of individuals between years, within season re-sightings and variations in contact times of individual whales throughout specific whale-vessel/swimmer encounters. Analysis of these spatial and temporal patterns is providing important management information at several levels, from individual whales to that of the population. Incorporating visitor experiences into ecologically sustainable management of dwarf minke whale tourism in the Great Barrier Reef. Alastair Birtles1,2; Peter Valentine 2,3; Matt Curnock 1,2;Andy Dunstan 4 1. Tourism Program, Western Campus,
James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4811, Australia A commercial swim program based on dwarf minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) exists in the northern Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Direct observations of whale-swimmer interactions indicated that initiation of encounters both at reefs and in open water were largely by the whales. Management of snorkeller/diver behaviour is necessary, however, to minimise potential harassment of the animals and to ensure that the interactions are as much as possible under the control of the whales. Using our observations and experiential data, we have been working with the live-aboard dive tourism industry to develop and test a Code of Practice for swimming with whales, as well as providing passengers with high quality interpretation. During the 1999 and 2000 minke whale seasons on the GBR, passengers on five live-aboard dive vessels experiencing regular in-water interactions with dwarf minke whales were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire. This study has applied experiential data from a sample of 527 passengers to assess the proposed Code. Passenger satisfaction with encounters and their management was very high. Generally, the Code was strongly supported although certain recommended procedures received only weak support. We discuss how to incorporate such feedback in order to improve the management of these unique human-whale interactions. Assessing interpretation as a technique for managing human - dwarf minke whale interactions on the Great Barrier Reef. Alastair Birtles1,2; Liam Smith 1; Peter Valentine 2,3; Matt Curnock, 1,2; Andy Dunstan4 1. Tourism Program, Western Campus,
James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4811, Australia It has been suggested that interpretation can play an important role in the protection of the animals involved in wildlife tourism. The development of a swim-with-whales tourism industry in the Cairns section of the Great Barrier Reef has allowed an opportunity for researchers in the Minke Whale Project to test this. Guidelines for passenger behaviour while swimming with the dwarf minke whales have been developed as part of a Code of Practice for managing the interactions. One of the aims of the interpretative material is to ensure that passengers understand and comply with the guidelines. Over the course of the past five years, new forms of interpretation have been added to create a broad range of material for crew and passengers. Notable recent inclusions were the Minke Whale Information Package (MWIP) in 1999 and 2000 and an information brochure in 2000. The latter was designed to meet some of the concerns listed in a passenger questionnaire that was distributed during the 1999 peak interaction period. Another passenger questionnaire circulated in 2000 showed an increase in the rating of interpretative material but that there was still room for improvement and the importance of having a variety of material was underscored. STUDENT THESESSupervised by Dr Alastair Birtles Curnock MI. 1998. A comparison of Japanese and non-Japanese scuba divers' experiences and perceptions of the Great Barrier Reef, with a focus on dwarf minke whale-diver interactions. Unpublished Tourism Honours Thesis, James Cook University, Townsville Australia. Matsukura Y. 1998. Japanese scuba divers on the Great Barrier Reef. Unpublished Master of Tourism Thesis, James Cook University, Townsville Australia. O'Neill F. 2000. Ecologically sustainable management of tourism-minke whale interactions: visitor experiences with dwarf minke whales in the far northern region of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Unpublished Master of Tourism Thesis, James Cook University, Townsville Australia. Smith L. 2000. Evaluating interpretation for managing human-dwarf minke whale interactions on the Great Barrier Reef: the drafting and testing of an information brochure. Unpublished Master of Tourism Thesis, James Cook University, Townsville Australia. |
