Demand-driven commercial whalewatching in Península Valdés (Patagonia): conservation implications for right whales
Contenido principal del artículo
Resumen
One of the largest remaining populations of the southern right whale, Eubalaena australis, breeds along the coast of Península Valdés, in
Argentine Patagonia. The area offers excellent opportunities for whalewatching because it is possible, with predictability, to have close-up
views of animals of all ages. During 11 years, from 1987 to 1997, more than 337,000 tourists took part in boat excursions to watch right
whales. The demand increased during this period over 14 times from 5,214 tourists in 1987 to 73,726 in 1997. From 1991 to 1994, more
than 8,000 boat trips were required to satisfy a demand of 125,000 people. Most whalewatching involved pregnant animals or mothers and
calves that often attempted to avoid the boats. In 1997, whalewatching generated direct revenues of at least $US 1 million in boat fees, and
direct plus indirect revenues of over $US 15 million (not including travel costs to Patagonia). The rapid growth of tourism in relation to
whales has undisputed economic and public-awareness benefits but it is also raising concern about potentially detrimental effects on the
animals. The lack of a management plan and of estimates of a tourist ‘carrying capacity’ allows customer demand to be the main driving
force behind a commercial activity based on this vulnerable species.
Detalles del artículo
![Creative Commons License](http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc/4.0/88x31.png)
Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial 4.0.
You are free to:
- Share copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt remix, transform, and build upon the material
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- No additional restrictions You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.