Project BLUEprint Sri Lanka

• SriLankan ties up with WDC to promote responsible whale watching in Sri Lanka

By Cheranka Mendis

Sri Lanka has potential to be listed among the top destinations of the world for whale watching, particularly blue whale watching, if the country adheres to sustainable and ‘responsible’ initiatives that would help the industry thrive under the current global awareness of the local waters and its attractions.

With 27 dolphin and whale species frolicking in its waters, Sri Lanka has much to contribute to the growing trend of whale and dolphin watching – both locally and globally.

Currently some 13 million people go whale watching every year in 120 countries, spending more than US$ 2.1 billion. Sri Lanka could obtain a larger share of this market, if necessary measures are taken for conservation and best practices are defined for the communities to develop the industry with immediate effect.

With the species being increasingly threatened and endangered by a combination of irresponsible and unregulated whale watching and collisions with boats, SriLankan Airlines has partnered with Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), the leading global charity dedicated to the protection of the species, to develop ‘project BLUEprint’ to raise awareness, provide training and scientific support to the growing industry so that whales can continue to inhabit the waters, and locals can benefit from a responsible whale watching industry.

The initial focus of the project is Mirissa, which is currently the most popular whale watching destination in Sri Lanka. Once established, responsible whale watching will be rolled out to two less-developed whale watching sites – Trincomalee and Kalpitiya – to safeguard the industry before there is any rapid increase of untrained vessel operators or a lack of community leadership which can manage the growing whale watching industry as a result of an expected influx of tourists wanting to see the whales.

The MOU in this regard was signed in November last year.

 Core objectives of BLUEprint

WDC Responsible Whale Watching Program Manager Vanessa Williams-Grey who was in Sri Lanka with WDC Trusts and Grants Manager Cynthia Walsh noted that the project’s aim was to develop and encourage a model for sustainable, community-based whale watching at Mirissa which can be exported to other locations.

“We are looking at promoting global best practices for local whale watch vessels,” Williams-Grey said. “We also hope to encourage local people to work together for the benefit of their community and the whales.”

Under the project, the WDC will look at responsible approaches and in-water protocols by photographers and media teams. “Now the news is out globally that you’ve got a lot of blue whales easily accessible in your waters. The world media teams are now queuing up in Sri Lanka.”

However, too many people in the water – be it media teams of National Geographic, BBC, David Attenborough, etc., the top end natural programs that have a wide audience reach – too many people too close is just as disturbing to the whales as badly-handled whale watching trips, she said.

With the waters of Mirissa interconnected with one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world where huge container ships traverse, the WDC is also concerned about ship strikes. What is needed is to secure urgent measures to mitigate and ultimately eliminate blue whale deaths due to ship strikes in the Sri Lankan belt.

Establishing a sound understanding of the numbers of whales, their individual identities, their behaviour and their range of travel via photo identification and benign research techniques is also a need of the hour.

 Issues in Mirissa

Williams-Grey expressed that the threats are largely due to a young industry which is growing at a remarkable rate. Mirissa, the most popular whale watching location in the country, has over 20 vessels encroaching around the whales, causing them to move from their feeding areas, and chasing mothers and calves, resulting in stressed whale behaviour which can lead to unsafe encounters. Whale watching in these waters is increasing at an estimated 20% per annum, she asserted.

“We need support to build a sustainable infrastructure which can be modelled at other sites, i.e. Trincomalee in the north east and Kalpitiya in the north west.”

Mirissa is close to a busy shipping lane, with 20-30 ships transiting the area daily. In 2011, five blue whales and two sperm whales washed ashore dead with massive propeller cuts. In 2012, a further three blue whales died due to ship strike. The true death toll is likely to be larger, she warned.

 No proper count

As at now there is no proper data on the number of whales and dolphins within the local waters.

However WDC in collaboration with John Keells Nature Trails has initiated a program titled ‘Wild Blue’ to collect data and to build a photo identification library. Sources from Nature Trails noted that the project is being successfully carried out in a number of locations, including Mirissa, Trincomalee, and Hambantota. The research hopes to gather data on the migratory whales, resident whales and the like. The effort is a long-term commitment by Nature Trails.

 Developing a ‘responsible’ model

To achieve the objectives, there has to be proper engagement between stakeholders across industries. The Government sector, tourism industry, community leaders, research bodies, community education and outreach programs, shipping industry, and the media must work together to create awareness and to drive the need for a sustainable and responsible model, Williams-Grey said, asserting that the a multi-pronged approach was required.

While developing a model for sustainable, community-based whale watching in Mirissa which can be exported elsewhere in Sri Lanka, there is a need to run training and ‘best practice’ workshops as required. The workshops should take into consideration the user groups of whale watch operators, onboard naturalist guides, researchers (to encourage the use of WW vessels as platforms of research opportunity; promote photo-ID, etc.), photographers, media and others, and especially those seeking in-water permits.

WDC will engage in carrying out the above measures, she assured.

 SriLankan Airlines’ contribution

SriLankan Airlines Head of Communication Ranjit De Silva noted that the partnership was a result of discussions WDC had had with the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in UK Dr. Chris Nonis. He noted that the issues of whale watching in Mirissa had been brought to the WDC’s notice by photographer Andrew Sullen who was in Sri Lanka to photograph the species.

“As the national carrier we feel that we have a responsibility not only in the development of the activities in the country but also a national and social responsibility to conserve the natural gifts with which the country is blessed,” De Silva said.

To raise awareness, the airline is carrying a film by Philip Hoare and Andrew Sutton onboard all flights as an introduction to whale watching in Sri Lanka. The airline is also keen to develop a few whale-related souvenirs, particularly blue whales, to be given to passengers.

He further noted that Sri Lanka Tourism had taken steps with regard to bringing in management structure to the system. “There is already a structure prevalent in Mirissa and one in Trincomalee. A structure is being developed in Kalpitiya now,” De Silva expressed.

“We have initiated the whole process and it is now up to the industry and the community to take it forward.” However the community has embraced a certain modus operandi in this regard, he said.

 Responsible whale watching

“Whale watching has the capacity to do great good if handled correctly, but also has the capacity to do great harm if not done responsibly. Ideally the situation is to take the boats out and maximise the enjoyment and education for passengers – handling the boats responsibly at safe places and creating a situation where you get happy whales, happy tourists, repeat business,” WDC Trusts and Grants Manager Cynthia Walsh said.

She noted that WDC has promoted whale watching since the late 1980s but added the word ‘responsible’ and codified the criteria in 2000 which they believe must be met in order for whale watching to be truly responsible and sustainable to cetaceans and the marine environment, and truly beneficial to passengers, operators and communities.

Responsible whale watching involves a prime recreational and educational experience, and watching whales with the lightest possible footprint, she said.

Walsh explained that the latter can be achieved by respecting relevant regulations or codes of conduct, ensuring vessels are fit for purpose, approaching the animals with extreme care and attention, respecting approach distances, and limiting time spent in their vicinity, and an experience built around a naturalist or guide who can provide accurate information, help to identify the whales and describe their behaviour, and successfully build the bridge between the urban participant and the sea.

“A good naturalist will bring the whole marine experience to life and tell all sorts of antidotes not only about whales and dolphins and identifying them correctly, but about other marine life including sea birds, etc., as well as the culture and history of the coast line people are passing,” Walsh said.

The active involvement of the community and giving communities a financial as well as personal interest in whale watching and the local marine environment is also crucial for the success of responsible whale watching.

Pix by Lasantha Kumara