Event Title
Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
Wildlife tours often view protected species that are subject to additional conservation measures, such as Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) in the Salish Sea, Washington. Discrete Choice Experiment willingness-to-pay estimates for whale watching tour attributes that view SRKW were obtained from a survey of 1,442 potential whale watchers. Tourist responses to conservation measures and regulations were assessed by estimating demand after tour attribute changes and respondent exposure to information about new rules. Whale watchers did not report a reduced likelihood of going whale watching after learning about new rules, though they did have increased concern about the impact of whale watching vessels. While tourists did have a preference for viewing Killer Whales (KW), both SRKW and Transient KW, from a close viewing distance, most tourists were willing to go whale watching at wide attribute ranges including viewing distances from 100-300 yards, 3-20 boats in proximity while viewing whales, and 20-60 minutes spent with whales. This study contributes willingness-to-pay estimates for whale watching in the unique Salish Sea area for viewing SRKW, Transient KW, and Humpback Whales, in addition to demand change estimates under regulation changes. A framework for understanding possible conservation rule change effects on tourism and ways to reduce impacts on tour operators highlights the importance of viewing distance and total number of viewing boats regulations.
Session Title
Vessel Risk
Conference Track
SSE5: Southern Resident Killer Whales and Vessel Impacts
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-traditionals-162
Start Date
26-4-2022 11:30 AM
End Date
26-4-2022 1:00 PM
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Tourist Preferences for Southern Resident Killer Whale Whale Watching and Rule Changes in the Salish Sea
Wildlife tours often view protected species that are subject to additional conservation measures, such as Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) in the Salish Sea, Washington. Discrete Choice Experiment willingness-to-pay estimates for whale watching tour attributes that view SRKW were obtained from a survey of 1,442 potential whale watchers. Tourist responses to conservation measures and regulations were assessed by estimating demand after tour attribute changes and respondent exposure to information about new rules. Whale watchers did not report a reduced likelihood of going whale watching after learning about new rules, though they did have increased concern about the impact of whale watching vessels. While tourists did have a preference for viewing Killer Whales (KW), both SRKW and Transient KW, from a close viewing distance, most tourists were willing to go whale watching at wide attribute ranges including viewing distances from 100-300 yards, 3-20 boats in proximity while viewing whales, and 20-60 minutes spent with whales. This study contributes willingness-to-pay estimates for whale watching in the unique Salish Sea area for viewing SRKW, Transient KW, and Humpback Whales, in addition to demand change estimates under regulation changes. A framework for understanding possible conservation rule change effects on tourism and ways to reduce impacts on tour operators highlights the importance of viewing distance and total number of viewing boats regulations.
