Whale watching is a significant ecotourism industry that can benefit whale conservation but also causes welfare harm through vessel noise, crowding, and behavioral disruption.
Whale watching welfare operates at the interface between conservation benefit and individual animal disruption. Revenue from whale watching provides economic incentives for whale protection and builds public support for conservation. However, individual whales in frequently watched areas experience ongoing behavioral disruption that affects feeding efficiency and social behavior. Welfare-positive whale watching follows strict distance guidelines, limits numbers of boats simultaneously viewing any group, and avoids approaches that alter whale behavior.