Impact of whale watching activities on cetaceans

In past years, cetacean research studies received little attention from the DOP/UAç members as their research efforts were directed to other priority areas. However, since 1987, DOP/UAç researchers began their collaboration with external entities (e.g. teams leaded by Jonathan Gordon from IFAW and the Department of Zoology in the University of Oxford) in cetacean research activities conducted in Azorean waters. These took place mainly during the summer months when the sea conditions in the Azores are more appropriate. The major aim of these studies was to demonstrate the feasibility of the establishment of the whale watching tourism in the Azores, mainly directed to sperm whales. Independent cetacean research work developed at DOP/UAç was mainly related with the recording of cetacean stranding. Examples of publications made with this data are: e.g. Martins et al. (1985); Reiner et al. (1993); Gonçalves et al. (1992, 1996). Studies on the feeding habits of sperm whales have also been made (Clarke et al., 1993) and a bibliographic review on their biology was elaborated (Gonçalves, 1996). With the increasing importance of the commercial whale watching activities in the Azores, cetacean studies have deserved more attention by DOP/UAç. Hence, a proposal for a research project to study the impact of whale watching on the cetaceans and to propose regulations for this activity, was approved by the Directorate of Tourism of the Azores (Regional Project approved by "Portaria nº P/SRTA/95/56"). This project was initiated in 1996 and it will be concluded at the end of 1997. A proposal for whale watching regulations was presented and discussed in the workshop that took place in the city of Horta in June 30, 1997, with the participation of several Directorates of the Azores Government, whale watching enterprises, environmental organisations and DOP/UAç researchers. An observer program for the fisheries in the Azores (POPA) will be implemented during 1997, involving the tuna can industries, tuna boats owners association and the Regional Directorate of Fisheries. This program will permit to obtain basic data on the distribution of cetaceans in the Azores and will permit to perform preliminary assessment of cetacean populations.

In the next years, cetacean research will be reinforced at DOP/UAç. Results of these studies will be important to advise and to help create new legislation for whale watching activities as well as, to implement fundamental research (photo-identification of cetaceans, bio-acoustic, behaviour, etc.). To achieve this goal, new biologists will be engaged through research fellowships directly related to ongoing projects. Undergraduated students will also be accepted in this area as well as, one graduated student (through MSc fellowships). International collaboration will be consolidated with the University of Oxford (behaviour and bio-acoustics) and the Tethys Foundation (bio-acoustics). A participation on a concerted action to be submitted to MAST III EC program is being prepared under the co-ordination of Leiden University, Netherlands, to establish an European database of sperm whales flukes used for individual recognition of animals - Photo-ID (photo identification).

Relevant references:
1) Clarke, M. R., H. R. Martins & P. Pascoe 1993. The diet of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758) off the Azores. Phil. Trans. of the Royal Society of London, B, 339: 67-82.
2) Gonçalves, J. M., 1996. "Actualização de conhecimentos sobre a biologia e ecologia do cachalote". Pp. 225-284 in: Introdução ao Estudo da Indústria Baleeira Insular. Museu dos Baleeiros (Ed.). Lajes do Pico, Açores.
3) Gonçalves, J., M. L. Galhardo & J. Brum 1992. Marine mammals stranded in the Azores during 1990-91. Arquipélago. Life and Earth Sciences 10: 113-118.
4) Gonçalves, J. M., J. P. Barreiros, J. M. Azevedo & R. Norberto 1996. Cetaceans stranded in the Azores during 1992-1996. Arquipélago. Life and Mar. Sci. 14A: 57-65.
5) Martins, H. R., M. R. Clarke, F. Reiner & R. S. Santos, 1985. A pigmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps (Blainville, 1838) stranded on Faial island. Arquipélago, Earth Sci., 6: 63-70
6) Reiner, F., J. M. Gonçalves & R. S. Santos, 1993. Two new records of Ziphiidae (Cetacea) for the Azores with an updated checklist of cetacean species. Arquipélago. Life and Mar. Sci. 11A: 113-118.