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Photo courtesy Peter & Liat Comerford.  Taken in 2001 at Turneffe Atoll east of Blackbird Caye.

MARINE MAMMALS- INTERACTION GUIDELINES

Interaction guidelines are applicable to all cetaceans, whether whales, dolphins or other species.
​

The Panama Workshop prepared guidelines to follow when interacting with cetaceans and the following were highlighted:
  • Persons shall always: operate vessels, and aircrafts so as not to disrupt the normal movement or behavior of whales and dolphins. 
  • Stop any interactions with a cetacean at any sign of the animal becoming disturbed or alarmed. 
  • Allow cetaceans to determine the nature and duration of ‘interactions’.
Therefore, the following recommendations need to be considered: 
  • Do not touch a cetacean.
  • Do not feed a cetacean. 
  • Do not make any loud or sudden noises.
  • Do not make sudden or repeated changes in direction or speed. 
  • Dedicated observer(s) should be on duty in addition to the captain of the vessel. 
  • Do not place a vessel up wind of, or in a position where it will drift into, the no-approach zone. 
When vessels are within the caution zone of whales or dolphins:
  • Approach cetaceans slowly and cautiously
  • Observe cetaceans at a speed not exceeding the speed of the animals. 
  • No more than 3 vessels should be in the caution zone of a whale or a dolphin at a time. 
  • Leave boat engine on and in idle when watching cetaceans. 
  • Do not disperse or separate a group of cetacean.
  • A vessel should not chase, encircle, block the direction of travel of cetaceans, or position itself in the middle of a pod. 
  • If cetaceans approach a vessel, slow down gradually and put engines in idle. 
  • If cetaceans approach a vessel to bow-ride, maintain a slow and steady speed and avoid sudden changes in course. 
  • When departing from watching cetaceans, determine where the animals are relative to the vessel to avoid collisions or coming too close to the animals, and increase speed gradually while exiting the caution zone.
Picture
ST GEORGE'S CAYE
Mailing Address: PO Box 1234, Belize City, Belize
TEL: + (501) 223-3022  Cel: + (501) 673-3022  Caye: + (501) 614-3483
Email:
info@ecomarbelize.org
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  • Welcome
    • About >
      • Site Map
      • COMMUNITIES
      • Partners
      • Blog
    • References >
      • Classroom Tools
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Research Station
    • Research Trips
    • St George's Caye
    • Marine Research >
      • Conch
      • Dolphins
      • Fish
      • Manatees >
        • Manatees Research
        • Manatee ID >
          • Delfina
      • Sea Turtles >
        • Gallow's Point >
          • Turtles Gallows Pt
          • Rhody Hope Majil
          • Hope 4 Nature
        • Robinson Point
        • Hope 4 Freya
    • Archaeology Project >
      • SGCAP 2014
      • SGCAP 2015
      • SGCAP 2016
  • Turtle Watch
    • Sea Turtle Census >
      • Nesting Beach Observations
      • In-Water Observations >
        • Photo ID
        • Turtle Recaptures
      • Stranded Sea Turtles >
        • Stranded Turtles 2010-2012
      • Illegal Take
    • Sea Turtle 101 >
      • Legislation
      • Classification
      • Anatomy
      • Life History
      • Species
      • Threats
      • Historical Importance
    • Nesting Beaches
    • Satellite Telemetry >
      • Tracking NOW
      • Historical Tracks >
        • Belize BSTCN >
          • Gallow's Point ECOMAR
          • Gales Point GPWS
          • Hol Chan
          • Lighthouse BAS
          • Lighthouse MAR Alliance
          • Glovers ECOMAR
          • Glovers WCS
          • Port Honduras TIDE
        • Barbados UWI
        • Cayman Islands DOE
        • Costa Rica STC
        • Jamaica NOAA
        • Mexico NOAA
        • Mexico UNAM
      • Education Resources
    • Outreach Materials >
      • Turtle Watch Newsletters
    • Operation Green Turtle
    • Turtle Network >
      • In-Water Surveys
      • Sea Turtle Rehab
      • BSTCN Members
  • Coral Watch
    • Coral Bleaching 101 >
      • Healthy vs. Unhealthy Coral
      • Remote Sensing
    • Coral Watch Publications
    • Coral Network >
      • Coral Members
  • Lionfish
    • Lionfish Served Here!
    • History in Belize >
      • GCFI Fisherman Exchange
      • COMPACT Lionfish Project
    • Lionfish Publications
    • Caribbean Strategies >
      • Culling Protocol >
        • Bermuda Lionfish
  • Oceans 365
    • Oceans 365 Reports
  • Ocean Watch
    • Manatee Deaths >
      • 2017 Manatee Deaths
      • Archives Manatees
      • Manatee Facts
    • Climate Change
    • Oil Exploration
    • Ciguatera
    • Haulover Creek
    • Wildlife Interactions
  • Marine Mammals
    • Sightings >
      • False Killer Whale
      • Humpback Whale Sightings
      • Killer Whales
    • Whale Stamps
    • Marine Mammal Workshop >
      • Management Considerations
      • Interaction Guidelines >
        • Vessels & Approaches
        • Swimming With
    • Marine Mammal Rescue
  • Get Involved
    • Adopt A Beach >
      • Adopt A Beach Sign Up
      • Adopted Beaches
    • Adopt A Reef >
      • Adopted Reefs
    • Volunteer
    • Reserve A Trip
  • Submit Report
    • Coral Watch
    • Lionfish Hunter
    • Oceans 365 Rare
    • Oceans 365 Report
    • Turtle Watch In-Water
    • Turtle Watch Nesting Beach
    • Submit Report Nesting Beach Old
    • Turtle Shell 4 Sale
    • Turtle Watch Stranded
    • Marine Mammal Form
  • Gift Shop
  • Donate
    • May 12 whale
  • Contact