Surveying Whale-Watchers to Better Protect Whales

Do you know the paradox of being a whale enthusiast? This is “this inner contradiction between the desire to protect, to be the least intrusive possible and not to disturb the animal and the desire to be as close as possible because you’re curious and in total admiration of these majestic mammals,” explains Ariane Tessier-Moreau, master’s student in maritime resource management at the Université du Québec à Rimouski, during a presentation given at the 89th edition of the Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas).

In response to this paradox, Ms. Tessier-Moreau and a team of UQAR researchers launched a research project with visitors as the focus of their study.

To conduct this study, the team boarded 83 whale-watching cruises in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park throughout the summer of 2021. Cruise participants were polled through a questionnaire on the extent to which they appreciated their whale-watching experience.

Passengers were also questioned regarding their expectations. Ultimately, it was determined that 96% of the visitors surveyed strongly believed that cruises should not harm the species present, though 89% wished to see whales, regardless of how far away they were from the animal(s). The majority of respondents also expressed a concern for protecting cetaceans.

Then, the results were compared with data from a similar study carried out in 1999 by Catherine Giroul (in French) of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières.

Taking into account these various elements, it can be concluded that Marine Park regulations most likely do not negatively influence the visitor experience. On the contrary, the impact is probably positive!

It is with this in mind that the research group will interview visitors and locals in Tadoussac and Baie-Sainte-Marguerite throughout the summer of 2022. Respondents will include both people who watch whales on board cruises and those who observe them from shore. The answers to this questionnaire will be used to assess people’s openness and gauge their opinion regarding the potential economic and regulatory changes in the Marine Park. For now, the team believes that people would be rather open to spending a significant amount to protect whales provided that the impact can be observed in the short or medium term.

Eventually, the results of this study could be used to better identify the benefits that lower boating and shipping traffic would have on marine mammals and the costs that this would entail.

It remains difficult to demonstrate the impact that protective measures are having on whales. One thing is for sure, however: These regulations certainly do not mean them any harm! Discussions with visitors help better understand the impact that establishing the Marine Park has had on their experience and in a way justifies the implementation of these restrictions. Thus far, this impact seems positive, which is quite encouraging for the future of the Marine Park and the marine mammals that call it home!