Introduction

The desire to view and interact with animals in their natural environment has driven strong growth of cetacean-based tourism since its inception in California in the 1950s. After years of steady growth in the US, the economic potential of the cetacean-watching tourism industry was recognized worldwide (see Chapter 1). In the early years of the industry, cetacean-based tourism developed with little or no management, regulation or oversight (Hoyt, 2008). Legislation to protect cetaceans was often designed to limit the effects of whaling and harpoons, not tourism boats and cameras. Perhaps as a consequence, little consideration was given to the effects of tourism on the target species. It was perceived to be less harmful than the alternative, and therefore additional protection was not needed (O’Connor et al., 2009).

Growth of cetacean tourism has led to increasing concerns about the effects of repeated close encounters with tour boats on the health of the target animals and the sustainability of the industry (Bejder & Lusseau, 2008; Parsons, 2012). Researchers have described a host of short-term reactions by cetaceans to the presence of boats, including changes in behaviour, movement, respiration, dive characteristics, habitat use, communication and group cohesion (e.g. Au & Green, 2000; Barr & Slooten, 1999; Bejder et al. 2006a, 2006b; Buckstaff, 2004; Constantine, 2001; Dans et al., 2008; Erbe, 2002; Gordon et al., 1992; Jahoda et al., 2003; Lusseau, 2006; Nowacek et al., 2001; Scarpaci et al., 2000; Stensland & Berggren, 2007; Williams et al., 2002).