Compliance of small vessels to minimum distance regulations for humpback and killer whales in the Salish Sea

dc.contributor.authorFraser, Molly
dc.contributor.authorMcWhinnie, Lauren
dc.contributor.authorCanessa, Rosaline
dc.contributor.authorDarimont, Chris
dc.date.accessioned2021-01-26T23:41:41Z
dc.date.available2021-01-26T23:41:41Z
dc.date.copyright2020en_US
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.abstractTo support optimal monitoring and enforcement investment, management aimed at minimizing disturbance to wildlife requires an understanding of how regulatory compliance might vary spatially as well as across species and human-user groups. In the Salish Sea, humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and two ecotypes (southern resident and Bigg's) of killer whales (Orcinus orca) now interact with a large and growing number of small commercial and recreational vessels that partake in whale watching. Those vessels often approach close to cetaceans and thus pose risk via collision, marine noise and pollution, exposure to which may result in disturbance, injury and death. The primary management tool for mitigating impacts is minimum distance regulations. Compliance, however, is poorly understood. We examined commercial and recreational small vessel compliance with viewing distances across two seasons (June–September 2018 and 2019) in over ≈404 h of on-water observation. Overall vessel compliance was nearly 80%, but several distinct patterns emerged. Recreational boats were significantly more likely to violate distance regulations and boaters were more likely to be non-compliant around killer whales. Compliance did not vary with day of week or time of day. Spatially, non-compliance was concentrated in waters closer to coastal communities. Collectively, these patterns suggest that optimal enforcement could be targeted to identify areas of high non-compliance, especially for killer whales, with effort spread across days and times. Finally, we discuss how investments in education could target recreational boaters at a time when multiple and interacting stressors are accumulating in the Salish Sea.en_US
dc.description.reviewstatusRevieweden_US
dc.description.scholarlevelFacultyen_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was funded by the Wild for Whales Foundation, Eagle Wing Tours, and the MITACS Accelerate Program.en_US
dc.identifier.citationFraser, M. D., McWhinnie, L. H., Canessa, R. R., & Darimont, C. T. (2020). Compliance of small vessels to minimum distance regulations for humpback and killer whales in the Salish Sea. Marine Policy, 121, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104171.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104171
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/12605
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMarine Policyen_US
dc.subjectConservation toolsen_US
dc.subjectEcotourismen_US
dc.subjectMarine mammalsen_US
dc.subjectRegulationsen_US
dc.subjectVessel management measuresen_US
dc.subjectWhale watchingen_US
dc.titleCompliance of small vessels to minimum distance regulations for humpback and killer whales in the Salish Seaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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