News
Whale-watching guidelines
Parliament will on Tuesday debate regulations promulgated under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance that will impose strict guidelines for those engaged in operating whale and dolphin watching expeditions.
The regulations cited as Sea Mammals (Observation, Regulation and Control) Regulations have been made by the Minister of Agrarian Services and Wildlife and will apply to owners and operators of such tour vessels, the crew as well as passengers.
The regulations cover annual licensing, mandatory insurance for vessels and passengers, lifesaving requirements, fees to be levied, and guidelines for conduct when mammals are sighted.
This is the first time this industry is being regulated since the rapid growth in the number of operators engaging in taking visitors on whale and dolphin watching expeditions, mainly from locations in Mirissa, Kalpitiya and Trincomalee.
Environmentalists have voiced concern over the years that unchecked and non-regulated whale watching was disturbing the marine mammal populations in these areas.
Under the new regulations, any vessel used to take visitors to spots that are the natural habitat of sea mammals should carry a license issued by the Director – General, Wild Life Conservation, or an authorised officer. Vessel owners should register with the Department of Wildlife Conservation and pay an annual licence fee of Rs. 5,000.
A certificate of fitness is required for each vessel, and full insurance cover from an approved insurance company. The insurance must cover crew members and the maximum number of passengers permitted. Proof that the vessel is equipped with lifejackets and other essential lifesaving equipment for crew and passengers must be produced. Licences will be issued according to sea zones authorised by the Director General Wild Life.
The departure points for vessels will have to be from a designated boat-yard, and the vessel must return to the same point. The vessel’s identification number should be visible from a distance of 50 metres. Sea mammals may be observed only during the 13-and-a-half hour period between 5.30 am and 7 pm.
The regulations lay down distances to be observed when a mammal is sighted with vessels being prohibited at from getting nay closer than 100 meters from the animal and should not ply in front of or behind the mammals, and care should be taken that the vessel at no time blocks the migratory routes of these mammals.
Liquor is prohibited on board, and no person found to be under the influence of alcohol will be allowed to board the vessel.
Communication equipment is mandatory on each vessel, including global positioning systems (GPS).
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