Menu
Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Pinterest Tiktok

How to Responsibly Interact with Marine Life.

78 Comments / Puerto Princesa, Palawan Attractions / By

Look, but don’t touch.

“Ethical wildlife tourism means viewing wildlife with no contact or interaction,” This means avoiding any activity that allows touching, feeding, or baiting wildlife, no matter how harmless it may seem.

Keep the bigger picture in mind.

Being a responsible tourist goes beyond refraining from petting manatees or snapping off chunks of coral to make into jewelry. “Ethical tourism needs to have a direct gain for the animals, ” adds Simon Pierce, a New Zealand-based marine biologist who works with the Marine Megafauna Foundation, a science and conservation non-profit. Fortunately, marine wildlife are often able to inspire that call to action. “When people see marine animals such as whales and dolphins in the wild they are often profoundly moved by the experience and far more motivated than before to actively contribute to the conservation of these animals and their environment,” Kidd notes. 

Recognize that rich ecosystems create rich experiences.

Some of the biggest threats sea turtles face in the world are loss of habitat due to poorly planned construction and coastal development.” Keeping coastal areas clean can mean reducing plastic use and staying at hotels that emphasize eco-friendly practices, such as those that use renewable energy sources and building materials; truly green resorts can also facilitate direct donations to local marine conservation organizations that spearhead projects to protect wildlife habitats.

But ecosystems don’t just comprise wildlife and landscapes; they also include local communities. “Conservation efforts work best if the affected communities actively support and lead the work,” Pierce says, noting that many conservation areas and endangered ocean wildlife are found in the developing world. “Given the funding constraints these countries face, sustainable tourism can help support much-needed protection efforts like hiring rangers, while also creating good jobs like tour guides and maintenance.” Empowering local communities to participate in and benefit from conservation is just as fundamental to ethical tourism as not touching wildlife.

Avoid experiences with captive animals.

bottlenose-dolphins-malampaya-sound-taytay-philippines

Despite waning popularity of captive wildlife experiences, dolphins and other marine life remain in cages across the world. Typically, tourists pay to watch dolphins perform tricks, or to get in the water with them to pose for a photo. “I do not believe it is ethical to hold dolphins in captivity, and I do not think it is safe to swim with dolphins in a captive space,” says Angie Gullan, founder of Dolphin Encountours Research Center in Mozambique, which follows a strict code of conduct—including a no feed, no touch, and no chase policy—when bringing tourists to see wild pods of dolphins.

When it comes to wildlife sanctuaries, there can sometimes be a gray area (or what seems like one) in which there may be a legitimate reason for holding an animal captive, like an injury that temporarily prohibits it from surviving in the wild. Still, there are ways to tell when those animals are being exploited. “Genuine wildlife sanctuaries have a defined conservation benefit to keeping the animals in captivity, and they do not use the animals for interactions with customers or in performances,” says Natalie Kidd of Intrepid Travel. Travelers may be able to see them, but only in the context of their manmade environment, rather than being put on display.

Do your research before making any plans.

There are plenty of people out there ready to separate tourists from their money at the expense of wildlife—so the onus is travelers to thoroughly vet any operator before a trip. “[It’s key to] find a tour operator that shares your values and [who] you can trust to act in the animals’ best interests,” says Stephen Petersen, director of conservation and research for Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, Canada. This isn’t always straightforward, he says, since many nature-based tour operators will claim to be doing so. Instead, “tourists should educate themselves about the experience they are going on and the species they hope to see in order to choose.”

Sarah Ellis, owner of Ningaloo Discovery, a marine tour operator in Western Australia, suggests looking at the bigger picture, too. “For me, the biggest red flag in relation to unethical interactions are unregulated tourism industries,” says Ellis. “It can be observed in many places around the world where the pressure on tour operators to make an income overcomes the desire to maintain ethical interactions.” Not every operator in countries without explicit government standards for wildlife tourism will be unethical, but it means you’ll want to take a deeper look. When it comes down to it, Pierce says, “look for the places where the wildlife are being observed without interfering with their natural behaviors, and where the operators are partnering in or leading their own conservation and research efforts.”

Tour companies like Intrepid Travel have also made it easier to identify ethical operators with its Animal Welfare Policy Toolkit, written jointly with World Animal Protection as members of its Coalition for Ethical Wildlife Tourism (CEWT). Adventure travel company G Adventures outlines its animal welfare policy as well, and you can download the World Cetacean Alliance’s global guidelines to ethical whale watching.

78 thoughts on “How to Responsibly Interact with Marine Life.”

  2. Avatar
    VictorGauro

    Drugs information sheet. Read now.
    [url=https://canadianfast.online/#]how to get prescription drugs without doctor[/url]
    earch our drug database. Drug information.

    Reply
  4. Avatar
    Michaelbek

    Everything about medicine. Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics.
    [url=https://canadianfast.online/#]prescription drugs online without doctor[/url]
    Get here. safe and effective drugs are available.

    Reply
  12. Avatar
    EdgarHit

    Comprehensive side effect and adverse reaction information. Medscape Drugs & Diseases.
    [url=https://canadianfast.com/#]pet antibiotics without vet prescription[/url]
    Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe. Medicament prescribing information.

    Reply
  16. Avatar
    EfrenJak

    Actual trends of drug. Medscape Drugs & Diseases.
    [url=https://edonlinefast.com]erection pills online[/url]
    Drugs information sheet. Drugs information sheet.

    Reply
  18. Avatar
    Donaldcreve

    Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side. Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe.
    https://clomiphenes.com where to buy cheap clomid without insurance
    Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics. Everything what you want to know about pills.

    Reply
  35. Avatar
    Aaronreuff

    Medscape Drugs & Diseases. Drug information.
    [url=https://azithromycins.com/]purchase zithromax online[/url]
    Top 100 Searched Drugs. Everything about medicine.

    Reply
  37. Avatar
    Dennisves

    п»їMedicament prescribing information. Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side.
    [url=https://finasteridest.com/]cost of generic propecia[/url]
    Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics. п»їMedicament prescribing information.

    Reply
  38. Avatar
    Dennisves

    Medscape Drugs & Diseases. Read now. [url=https://amoxicillins.com/]amoxicillin 500 mg brand name[/url]
    Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe. Drug information.

    Reply
  39. Avatar
    Aaronreuff

    Read information now. Drugs information sheet.
    [url=https://azithromycins.online/]zithromax online australia[/url]
    Learn about the side effects, dosages, and interactions. Everything what you want to know about pills.

    Reply
  42. Avatar
    DonaldCar

    Cautions. Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe.
    [url=https://mobic.store/#]mobic otc[/url]
    Some trends of drugs. Best and news about drug.

    Reply
  45. Avatar
    JamesJag

    Learn about the side effects, dosages, and interactions. Everything information about medication.
    [url=https://mobic.store/#]can i purchase mobic for sale[/url]
    safe and effective drugs are available. Long-Term Effects.

    Reply
  48. Avatar
    Davidmaw

    Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics. All trends of medicament.
    [url=https://mobic.store/#]can you buy generic mobic prices[/url]
    Everything information about medication. Long-Term Effects.

    Reply
  49. Avatar
    JamesFah

    safe and effective drugs are available. Get warning information here.
    [url=https://mobic.store/#]can i order cheap mobic for sale[/url]
    Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics. Medscape Drugs & Diseases.

    Reply
  59. Avatar
    Kevinlab

    Comprehensive side effect and adverse reaction information. Best and news about drug.
    [url=https://stromectolst.com/#]ivermectin 4000 mcg[/url]
    Medscape Drugs & Diseases. Get here.

    Reply
  60. Avatar
    Ronaldoffit

    drug information and news for professionals and consumers. Comprehensive side effect and adverse reaction information.
    [url=https://stromectolst.com/#]ivermectin pill cost[/url]
    Read here. Drugs information sheet.

    Reply
  62. Avatar
    Kevinlab

    earch our drug database. Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics.
    [url=https://stromectolst.com/#]stromectol tablets for humans[/url]
    Top 100 Searched Drugs. Drugs information sheet.

    Reply
  63. Avatar
    Kevinlab

    Medicament prescribing information. Actual trends of drug.
    [url=https://stromectolst.com/#]ivermectin 1mg[/url]
    Comprehensive side effect and adverse reaction information. safe and effective drugs are available.

    Reply
  69. Avatar
    Zacharyhep

    Everything information about medication. Actual trends of drug.
    [url=https://stromectolst.com/#]ivermectin 3mg tablets[/url]
    Long-Term Effects. Get here.

    Reply
  70. Avatar
    Kevinlab

    Learn about the side effects, dosages, and interactions. Cautions.
    [url=https://stromectolst.com/#]stromectol 3 mg tablet[/url]
    Read here. Long-Term Effects.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Scroll to Top
Verified by MonsterInsights