Evaluation of a Developing Ecotourism Industry: Whale-Watching in The Gulf of Tribugá, Colombia.
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| Title: | Evaluation of a Developing Ecotourism Industry: Whale-Watching in The Gulf of Tribugá, Colombia. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Zapetis, Maria E., Samuelson, Mystera M., Acosta, Natalia Botero, Kuczaj, Stan A. |
| Source: | International Journal of Comparative Psychology. 2017, Vol. 30, p1-16. 16p. |
| Subjects: | Humpback whale, Ecotourism, Perceived control (Psychology), Wildlife conservation, Mating grounds |
| Geographic Terms: | Colombia |
| Abstract: | The ecotour industry continues to grow with a distinct focus on providing the public with up-close encounters with cetaceans. As a result, research focusing on both the effects of ecotourism on cetaceans and the efficacy of conservation-focused educational interventions for whale-watching operators is necessary to monitor and develop industry standards. Each year, whale-watching tours target humpback whales along their Colombian Pacific breeding grounds. There are many benefits to ecotourism in this area, including the use of whale-watching vessels as a platform for scientific research and environmental education. However, some whale-watching operators may lack species-specific knowledge and/or do not follow the suggested industry guidelines. Researchers held educational seminars for whale-watching staff at six hotels that border the Gulf of Tribugá. Seminars focused on whale anatomy, behavior, anthropogenic effects on the species, and sustainable whale-watching protocols. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire aimed to assess constructs related to the conservation of this species. This self-report information was accompanied by implicit measures (e.g., sighting duration, distance from whales) recorded during tours in situ. Behavioral observations aimed at assessing whales' response to ecotour vessels demonstrated that whales increased rates of surface-active behaviors (e.g., tail slashes) with increasing nearness and duration. Whale-watching operators' conduct during sightings demonstrated that positive attitudes toward humpback whales did not translate into adherence to sustainable practices. This relationship between the whale-watching operators' questionnaire results and their behavior in the field demonstrates the need for careful monitoring of this developing industry. This project represents a preliminary evaluation of this budding ecotour industry. Continued efforts to increase knowledge while promoting self-advocacy, positive perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, behavioral intentions, and attitudes towards these animals will enable the safeguarding of near-shore waters essential for breeding and nursing humpback whales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of International Journal of Comparative Psychology is the property of International Society for Comparative Psychology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 150756334 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Evaluation of a Developing Ecotourism Industry: Whale-Watching in The Gulf of Tribugá, Colombia. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zapetis%2C+Maria+E%2E%22">Zapetis, Maria E.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Samuelson%2C+Mystera+M%2E%22">Samuelson, Mystera M.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Acosta%2C+Natalia+Botero%22">Acosta, Natalia Botero</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kuczaj%2C+Stan+A%2E%22">Kuczaj, Stan A.</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22International+Journal+of+Comparative+Psychology%22">International Journal of Comparative Psychology</searchLink>. 2017, Vol. 30, p1-16. 16p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Humpback+whale%22">Humpback whale</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecotourism%22">Ecotourism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Perceived+control+%28Psychology%29%22">Perceived control (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wildlife+conservation%22">Wildlife conservation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mating+grounds%22">Mating grounds</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Colombia%22">Colombia</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: The ecotour industry continues to grow with a distinct focus on providing the public with up-close encounters with cetaceans. As a result, research focusing on both the effects of ecotourism on cetaceans and the efficacy of conservation-focused educational interventions for whale-watching operators is necessary to monitor and develop industry standards. Each year, whale-watching tours target humpback whales along their Colombian Pacific breeding grounds. There are many benefits to ecotourism in this area, including the use of whale-watching vessels as a platform for scientific research and environmental education. However, some whale-watching operators may lack species-specific knowledge and/or do not follow the suggested industry guidelines. Researchers held educational seminars for whale-watching staff at six hotels that border the Gulf of Tribugá. Seminars focused on whale anatomy, behavior, anthropogenic effects on the species, and sustainable whale-watching protocols. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire aimed to assess constructs related to the conservation of this species. This self-report information was accompanied by implicit measures (e.g., sighting duration, distance from whales) recorded during tours in situ. Behavioral observations aimed at assessing whales' response to ecotour vessels demonstrated that whales increased rates of surface-active behaviors (e.g., tail slashes) with increasing nearness and duration. Whale-watching operators' conduct during sightings demonstrated that positive attitudes toward humpback whales did not translate into adherence to sustainable practices. This relationship between the whale-watching operators' questionnaire results and their behavior in the field demonstrates the need for careful monitoring of this developing industry. This project represents a preliminary evaluation of this budding ecotour industry. Continued efforts to increase knowledge while promoting self-advocacy, positive perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, behavioral intentions, and attitudes towards these animals will enable the safeguarding of near-shore waters essential for breeding and nursing humpback whales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Comparative Psychology is the property of International Society for Comparative Psychology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.46867/ijcp.2017.30.00.09 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 16 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Humpback whale Type: general – SubjectFull: Ecotourism Type: general – SubjectFull: Perceived control (Psychology) Type: general – SubjectFull: Wildlife conservation Type: general – SubjectFull: Mating grounds Type: general – SubjectFull: Colombia Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Evaluation of a Developing Ecotourism Industry: Whale-Watching in The Gulf of Tribugá, Colombia. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Zapetis, Maria E. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Samuelson, Mystera M. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Acosta, Natalia Botero – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kuczaj, Stan A. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Text: 2017 Type: published Y: 2017 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 08893667 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 30 Titles: – TitleFull: International Journal of Comparative Psychology Type: main |
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