Whale-watching tourism supports conservation awareness but can cause significant welfare harm to whales and dolphins when conducted without appropriate guidelines.
The welfare impacts of whale-watching range from negligible when conducted properly to significant when operators prioritize close approaches over animal welfare. Boats that closely approach and follow whales force behavioral changes: interrupted nursing, abandoned feeding dives, and disruption of acoustic communication essential for social bonding and foraging. Cumulative effects across a season from multiple operators compound individual encounter impacts. Best practice guidelines developed through research include mandatory minimum distances, speed limits in cetacean habitat, limits on encounter duration, engine management to reduce noise, and prohibition of encirclement. Regulatory enforcement and guide training are essential to translate guidelines into practice.