Time for Nature

Watching the whale watchers

October 24, 2005

Saguenay-St-Lawrence Marine Park

Saguenay-St. Lawrence National Marine Park of Canada is renowned for some of the best whale watching in Canada
© Parks Canada, Barrett & MacKay, 1985

The whale-watching industry has increased rapidly in the last few years. When increasing boat traffic began threatening the marine mammals in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park , local residents and tourism operators were quick to join forces with the park to find a solution. The park is renowned for some of the best whale watching in Canada. However, a study of fin whale behaviour in the late 1990s found that fin whales tended to dive for shorter periods in search of food when a lot of whale-watching boats were present. The study, combined with increased understanding from members of the local community and environmental groups from around the world, confirmed the need for a new management plan to oversee the whale-watching industry and fueled local interest in developing whale-watching regulations for the park.

Half the region's marine mammals, including the St.Lawrence beluga, are on Canada's endangered species list.
© Parks Canada, J. Steeves, 1989

The lure of whale watching

Created in 1998 to protect the ecosystems of the Saguenay fiord and the St. Lawrence estuary , the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is one of the national marine conservation areas of Parks Canada.

For the residents of Quebec's north shore, protecting the whales was as important for their economy as it was for the environment. The economic spin-offs from whale watching in the marine park are valued at close to $80 million a year. However, half the region's marine mammals, including the St. Lawrence beluga , are on Canada's endangered species list. Although a whale-watching code of ethics had been in place since 1990, new regulations were created with the cooperation of boat owners, Aboriginal groups, tourism associations and all levels of government.

Regulations set a new standard

To keep the visitors coming, the whales flourishing and the local economy thriving, Parks Canada adopted the Marine Activities in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park Regulations in 2002. The regulations state the conditions that excursion operators must meet to get a permit. The regulations also set the rules for boats in the presence of marine mammals; for example, how fast the boats can travel, how closely they can approach the whales, how many boats can observe at once, and how long they can stay.

A first in Canada, the regulations are expected to reduce the disturbances associated with whale watching and help conserve biodiversity in the park.

The evolution of whale watching

Research, an increased awareness and understanding of whales and the regulations, have had other effects on the whale-watching industry in and around the park. Since 1985, researchers have been studying the whale watchers as well as the whales, mapping the routes of tour boats and the whales they seek. Today's whale-watching tours now offer interpretation programs that include a diversity of content and opportunities, in order to give the whales some breathing room and allow the visitors to discover other natural phenomenons of the Saguenay-St-Laurent marine conservation area.

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