A Guide to Ethical Wildlife Watching

With international travel gearing up, people are ready to start seeing some amazing creatures. Here is what I've learned about whale and dolphin watching from trial and error.

Land-based watching:

This is the best option!

Did you know you can watch beautiful creatures from land? Yes, just by walking on the beach. There are plenty of shoreline and cliff-based viewing opportunities in countless countries. They are all completely free and most importantly, land-based whale or dolphin watching has no impact on the cetaceans! So, you are acting in the best interest of the animals! Just check which species are common in your designated area during the specific season you're visiting.

For example, San Diego in April (spring) will have Grey whale migrations occurring off the coast.

The best resource I've found for whale tracking is the Whale Trail Website which links shore-based whale watching on a global map, including the west coast of Canada and the U.S.

For instance, within San Diego there is Dana Point Headlands which has over 3 miles of pedestrian trails, coastal and beach access, scenic overlooks and a nature center. In fact, whales are visible from the nature center patio at CNLM Dana Point Preserve Trail, Overlooks 2 and 3. Binoculars are available for free at the nature center for check-out. One can see common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, sea lions, pacific white-sided dolphins and humpback whales year-round. Between December - mid May, grey whales are seen during their annual 10,000 mile migration. In the summer, blue whales can be seen off shore and on rare occasions one might catch a glimpse of Biggs' orcas spotted from the shoreline.

Non-vessel:

This is when you take a kayak, canoe, SUP, surfboard, etc. for some in-water viewing. You might just happen to be amongst whales or dolphins. This type of watching also eliminates any disturbance from underwater engines and so it won't impact the whales or dolphins. It does come with its own set of risks or injuries - so go with an experienced person that knows the area. You also need to ensure you do not touch or interact with wildlife as humans can spread disease or infection to the whales or dolphins, as well as disrupt their feeding, resting and socializing behaviors that require a lot of energy for them to perform.

My first time surfing in Oceanside, California I experienced two dolphins playfully swim underneath my board. It was a magical experience. Just being in the water allows you to experience wildlife first-hand.

Vessel-based whale-watching:

Not going to lie, it is pretty exhilarating being on a boat and seeing a whale. It's even better when the whale decides to come near you out of its own curiosity! If you can get into a rubber boat, that's even better because these boats do not harm the cetaceans.

For instance, Next Level Sailing in San Diego can allow for a unique whale watching experience on a wind/solar powered sailboat. It only uses 10 gallons per 4-hour trip!

The reality is that vessel-based whale-watching is the most problematic. Vessels, or boats, cause underwater sounds that are generated by the boat's engine and can mask whale and dolphin communication. Some vessel sounds can even potentially damage their hearing. Noise pollution interrupts important activities like feeding, socializing or resting. On top of the noise, water pollution, chasing and traffic can add more disturbances towards these animals. If you're set on the ship, ask your tour operator these important questions in order to minimize impacts:

Things to ask a Whale or Dolphin Boat Tour Operator:

- How does the operator maneuver the vessel?

- What is the distance between the boat and the animal?

Be sure that they approach the whale or dolphin from the side, parallel - never behind or in front. Passengers should always see the animal from a distance, so as to not disturb marine life. Operators should never "corral, herd, or cut across" the animal or its path, especially to pin it into an area for viewing. These actions stress out the animal and disturb their daily routines.

- Do you have an experienced naturalist onboard?

- Do you contribute to scientific research?

- How do you promote marine conservation?

Tour vessels should have an experienced, naturalist onboard that provides high quality educational material that highlights the interconnectivity of all the creatures in the ecosystem. The tour should not just focus on epic whales. It should also mention how human impact effects the ecosystem positively and negatively.

Companies should also work with expert researchers to conserve the marine ecosystems and contribute to scientific research. There should be information on the website or pamphlets about the realistic experience of animal viewing, not just some NATGEO extreme close-ups of whales jumping through the air. Ask the employees how the company contributes to marine conservation, if they're unsure, find someone else.

Places to visit:

Tadoussac, Quebec is an absolute gem in North America ~ if California and Canada had a baby, it would be this place. It's located at the intersection of where salty (St. Lawrence) and freshwater (Saguenay) currents meet, thus causing nutrient upwelling where wildlife feed. And it's famous for hosting a resident population of Beluga whales, they're actually the southernmost in the world! You can see them by just walking down to the river or taking the ferry across the Fjord du Saguenay.

Belugas are known for being extremely friendly and expressive due to their ability to move their heads and lips and also wrinkle their forehead. They are very playful creatures. Unfortunately for these reasons, people anthropomorphize them and lock them up in small enclosures. If you want to see belugas in Canada - go to Churchill, Manitoba (Hudson Bay) and Tadoussac, Quebec (Islet Point) during the summer. They will oftentimes approach boats and kayaks because they like to interact so much. Belugas travel in groups of 5-20 and during the summer can be seen in hundreds in bays and mouths of rivers.

We paid for a whale watching tour in a large boat in Tadoussac, Quebec. Although it did share some facts about the whales, it really didn't go deep into the interconnectedness of the ecosystem nor mention the company's dedication to conservation or scientific research.

Salish Sea / Victoria / Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada are more incredible spots. Orca pods are usually spotted in BC between August and November, with some transient pods noticed year-round. Humpbacks can be seen August to December and Minkes are most common in the summer. There are around 20,000 gray whales that migrate past small towns each March and October. Whales are harder to find in the winter, but there are still sea lions and porpoises present in Victoria and Tofino.

I learned a lot from Coexinctionfilm about what is happening in the Salish sea of British Columbia to the endangered population of killer whales called the southern residents. They are called residents because they are local to the Salish sea and they come closer to shore. This species of orca only eats fish and they are literally starving to death because their mostly salmon diet is in significant decline. It is believed that there is only one breeding male and female left - so, they are on the brink of functional extinction.

Salmon are in decline in the Pacific Northwest due to human impacts. This film explores the interconnected relationship between orcas and salmon, two keystone species caught in a complicated web of big oil, overfishing, fish farms and diseases, pollution and the snake river dams in Washington.

La Maddalena, Sardinia, Italia is a beautiful pelagos sanctuary (marine protected park) and place to visit. I learned a lot from the non-profit Seame Sardinia when I met Dr. Luca and Beatrice. Seame protects cetaceans in the Mediterranean through education and conservation. Currently, this region is in trouble with the combined effects of noise pollution, overfishing, habitat degradation and water pollution. Tourist activities have deeply affected the ecosystem and populations of all marine species. These scientists conduct daily coast surveys on a rubber tourist fleet to collect data on dolphin-whale behavior, as well as habitat and human activity. In the summer, they run marine camps for children to learn about cetaceans.