Re: Fwd: [WW:] Thesis] WHALE WATCHING

Hi there
We are interested in getting a CD of your work for the Sustainable
Communities Foundation and the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network.
Please see attached our community tourism conference which you can attend if
you wish - let me know if you would like to come and we will send you the
rates etc.
Best regards
Diana McIntyre-Pike
Chairman/CEO Countrystyle Jamaica
----- Original Message -----
From: "Yacine Khelladi" <yacine@YACINE.NET>
To: <CANGONET@YorkU.CA>
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2003 5:15 AM
Subject: Fwd: [WW:] Thesis] WHALE WATCHING

> >From: "Stephanie Meinhold" <huggies@xyz.net>
> >To: <whalewatch@onenw.org>
> >
> >List-Subscribe: <mailto:sympa@onenw.org?subject=subscribe%20whalewatch>
>
> >Subject: [WW:] Thesis
> >Status:
> >
> >Hi there,
> >I wanted to let people know that my Master's thesis is in the
> >process of being published.
> >
> >DESIGNING AN EDUCATION PROGRAM TO MANAGE THE UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS OF
> >WHALE WATCHING
> >
> >Abstract
> >There is a potential for whale watchers to behave inappropriately
> >around killer whales, which can have harmful effects on the whales
> >and may diminish
> >the experience of visitors, affecting tourism in the Johnstone
> >Strait area. This type of behaviour occurs mainly as a result of
> >the lack of knowledge
> >by private vessel operators of the accepted whale watching
> >guidelines. There are a number of possible methods for managing
> >undesirable tourist activity, but education appears to be the best
> >method for Johnstone Strait when it is supported by minimal, but
> >effective regulation. This thesis describes the ideal education
> >program for managing tourist behaviour around
> >killer whales in Johnstone Strait.
> >
> >The precautionary principle states that even in the absence of
> >scientific proof of harm or a cause and effect relationship,
> >preventative action must be taken to prevent the harm from
> >occurring. On this basis, we need to
> >prevent the situation in Johnstone Strait from deteriorating before
> >irreversible impacts occur on killer whales, their habitat, the
> >tourists and the tourism industry. The best method for attempting
> >to meet this goal is to educate the public regarding their behaviour
> >while watching killer whales in a way that will create a sense of
> >personal responsibility, use a holistic approach, demonstrate
> >practical action strategies, and control visitor expectations.
> >
> >The Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Interpretive Centre Society should
> >manage the proposed education program in Johnstone Strait. An
> >interpretive facility should be built in Telegraph Cove as a base of
> >operations, in addition to adding value to the touristÕs experience.
> >The education program itself should include a water-based component,
> >a land-based component, as well as a research and monitoring
> >component. The water-based component should have a roving warden
> >throughout the killer whale ÔcoreÕ habitat area and a Robson Bight
> >Michael Bigg Ecological Reserve warden for the killer whale
> >ÔcriticalÕ habitat area. The land-based component should have
> >campground slide shows, a dockside interpreter contacting sport
> >fishermen during morning launch and vessels docking for fuel during
> >the day, and a local community and BC wide outreach program. It is
> >important that the program be as efficient and effective as possible
> >in a time of increasingly scarce financial resources.
> >
> >I would be happy to send anyone a CD copy if they are interested.
> >
> >Thank you,
> >Stephanie Meinhold
> >PO Box 1947
> >Homer, AK 99603
> ><mailto:huggies@xyz.net>huggies@xyz.net
> >
> >BSc - University of Calgary, Calgary, AB (Zoology)
> >MA (Candidate) - Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC (Environment &
> >Management)
>
Received on Fri Mar 28 11:04:25 2003