Responsible whale watching can generate conservation funding but irresponsible encounters cause stress, behavioural disruption, and injury to cetaceans through vessel pressure and noise.
Even well-intentioned whale watching can harm cetaceans if conducted without proper protocols. Vessels approaching too closely disrupt feeding, socialising, and resting behaviour. Engine noise masks communication between individuals, particularly affecting mothers and calves. Multiple vessels surrounding a whale simultaneously cause significant stress. Collisions with boats cause fatal injuries. Well-regulated watching, with trained naturalists and strict speed and distance rules, can generate conservation income while minimising welfare costs.