New legislation has recently been passed in the Azores to regulate the increasing demand but supervising behaviour out at sea and out of sight is not easy. You, the client whale watcher, can do this by reporting back any malpractice you encounter. The new economic significance of whale watching and the widening concern and support from those who participate is likely to do more than anything else to help protect these animals on the world stage and change political opinions.
- Cetaceans should not be chased.
- Boats should approach by maintaining direction parallel and slightly to the rear of the cetaceans, keeping an open field of 180° to the front of them.
- When approaching avoid changes in direction, keep at slow speeds of under I 0 knots and when 400m from the area reduce to 4 knots.
- A maximum of only two boats are permitted inside a radius of 400m around an individual whale or group of whales.
- It is prohibited to approach cetaceans closer than 50m; when they are resting they may not be approached at all.
- Only one boat at a time is permitted to approach to the minimum distance of 50m from the whales, and the engine should be kept on low revs.
- Boats should not come between animals in groups thereby separating them, especially the young.
- Whales with small calves should not be approached closer than 100m.
- Movements of all boats must always be on the same side, parallel to and a little to the rear of the animals.
- Maximum time to be spent in the area observing is 30 minutes near the animal.
- After observation, boats must depart from the area to the rear of the animals, and maintain a slow speed within 400m of them.
- No swimming is allowed with cetaceans.
- Skippers must explain to clients the dangers of swimming with dolphins and that they do this at their own risk (there is no insurance available).
- When swimming with dolphins one extra crew member, apart from the skipper, must be allocated for surveillance of swimmers at all times and be equipped for swimming.
- Only two swimmers with dolphins should be allowed in the water at the same time and to be equipped with snorkels; they must remain quietly on the surface and not touch the dolphins.
- Swimming time with dolphins is limited to 15 minutes maximum.
- The boat’s motor must be in neutral at all times when swimmers are in the water.
