Responsible dolphin watching

It is hard to know if it is the ancient mysticism attached to dolphins that makes them so magical. For the older generation it is mostly memories of the TV series Flipper that have them dewy eyed when they think about seeing the real thing. For the younger generation we believe that it is, sadly, the growth of marine theme parks with their captive cetaceans – and us craving the ‘joyous jumping’ spectacles. From Disneyworld to Denmark, Mexico to Malta, people are still flipping over backwards to see dolphins do their thing. As the word gets out about the issues around containing wild animals in tanks for our amusement, more and more people want to get their kicks in the wild - to swim and play with them, touch them, kiss them and be healed by them. Go see them in the wild, for sure, but let them behave as they want to – this means no touching, cuddling or kissing. This is their world, and if we respect it and allow them to inhabit it peacefully, we will be able to watch them play happily in it too. The industry is starting to wake up to the fact that there is more to dolphin watching than dollar signs, and usually it is a good skipper at the helm that makes all the difference between a responsible trip and a totally irresponsible one.

Boats should always slow down when dolphins are spotted and generally you should never spend more than twenty minutes with them. Cautious boats are most likely to get the best encounters. Dolphins are intelligent; they understand when an encounter is on their terms. This makes them relaxed, which is when they start to interact and do all the amazing behaviours we love to see. A pod or group of cetaceans must never be split by a boat, and nor must they ever be crowded out or encircled. If there is already a boat or two near a group of dolphins, then a responsible operator will turn away. You may feel desperate to get the Instagram shot of the day, but let it go and put your trust in the skipper. Top tip: If you want to gain a greater understanding of cruelty against cetaceans, then the award winning documentary film, The Cove, is a must. It’s based on former dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry ‘s journey to come to terms with something he now believes to be totally wrong: keeping dolphins in captivity. The film uncovers the shocking way in which Japanese fishermen capture dolphins to sell on to dolphinarium. If anyone suggests dolphin watching on a jet ski, just say no. In fact when it comes to protecting the marine environment generally, always say no to jet skis. Some places do offer land based dolphin watching. It is a much less invasive option, so check if it is available in the region you are visiting. One of the best things you can do is report any bad practice on the part of operators. In many countries Codes of Conduct go unpoliced, so sometimes it is only the passengers who are the enforcers. You don’t have to have a degree in marine biology to realise that a skipper is not acting appropriately. There are so many ways of spreading good and bad word, using TripAdvisor and social media; but if you can name and shame to leading conservationists in the country, with photos if at all possible, this will have more impact. Be aware that even though there are codes of practice, there is very little policing or control of them. It is purely compassionate and ethical practice that makes a good responsible cetacean watching adventure the best thing in the world for animals and people alike.