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.
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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.