Crackdown on irresponsible whale watching in French Polynesia

Updated September 5, 2008 16:08:13

RAThe authorities in French Polynesia are set to crack down on irresponsible whale watching practices. It follows concerns over the increase in the number of boats and inexperienced tour providers operating in the region.

Presenter: Helene Hofman
Speaker: IFAW's Pacific Officer, Olive Andrews; Diving consultant Tahiti Tourism, Bernard Begliomini; Director of the Marine Mammal Research Program at the Island Research Centre and Environmental Observatory, Dr Michale Poole

HOFMAN: It's attracting thousands of visitors a year, and for French Polynesia, whale watching is fast becoming a leading source of tourism revenue.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare - IFAW - says that between 1998 and 2005 the industry grew by 45 per cent . . . and French Polynesia was among the countries that experienced the fastest growth.

But, with this growth have come a number of problems.

Dr Michael Poole is Director of the Marine Mammal Research Program at the Island Research Centre and Environmental Observatory on Moorea. He was the first to organise whale watching tours in French Polynesia back in 1992 and says conditions have changed:

POOLE: Whereas there might have been one service provider or tour operator on an island before, now there are several and so there are commercial boats taking people out to see dolphins and whales, there are private citizens taking their own boats out, and there has been a marked increase in the number of boats in the presence of these animals. Some of the problems have been the number of boats in the water and people that have little or no knowledge in boats and so using precautionary principle, it's better to do the best we can to protect these animals before there are major problems.

HOFMAN: Anyone carrying out whale watching tours from French Polynesia is required to have a valid license. But to date, the law has never been enforced.

Now, following a meeting of service providers, environmental experts and the maritime affairs department, a new set of regulations is to be implemented by the marine police.

From now on, tour operators will have to complete a mandatory internship on working around whales before they can get their license. They will also be issued with a special flag allowing the marine police to spot unlicensed operators and private boat owners more easily.

Diving consultant for Tahiti Tourism, Bernard Begliomini (PRON: Bare-nar BEG-LYO-MINI) says everyone is pleased by the changes:

BEGLIOMINI: Everybody understands they have to protect them if they want to do business, because they understand that a wall took place to protect the whales and because approach should slowly, then the whale will come to the boat. It's just more fun and that gives more guarantee as well and the people we take on the whale watching now they understand they are very involved in how to protect the environment and especially the whales, and they know if the approach is good or not.

HOFMAN: It's hoped that these new regulations will ensure that the whales are protected and allow the industry to continue growing.

Olive Andrews is Pacific Officer for IFAW:

ANDREWS; The Humpback whales that are the basis of this tourism industry are classified endangered by the IUCN and were hunted to less than ten per cent of their original populations in the last 100 years. So essentially we are very lucky that these whales are still coming to Pacific Island breeding grounds. They come to warmer tropical waters to give birth to their calves and to mate. So what they are doing here in the islands is very important to their life cycle and we need to make sure that we minimise our potential impact on the whales and maximise the educational value of the activity.