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Monitoring tourism schooners observing estuarine dolphins ( Sotalia guianensis ) in the Estuarine Complex of Cananéia, south‐east Brazil
Author(s) -
Filla Gislaine de Fatima,
MonteiroFilho Emygdio Leite de Araujo
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
aquatic conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1099-0755
pISSN - 1052-7613
DOI - 10.1002/aqc.1034
Subject(s) - estuary , fishery , tourism , geography , environmental science , biology , archaeology
1. Surveys were carried out between December 2004 and March 2006 on board tourism schooners to detect possible impacts due to tourist activities on estuarine dolphins ( Sotalia guianensis ) in the Estuarine Complex of Cananéia. 2. The estuarine dolphins exhibited different reactions according to the different periods of time that the boats remained close to them: the longer the period, the estuarine dolphins reacted less negatively, and for periods between 2 and 30 min, more positive reactions were observed. 3. Estuarine dolphin reactions also varied according to the different procedures followed by the skippers. The approach methods considered ‘correct’ resulted in a positive reaction from 97% of the animals encountered and 100% of occasions where there were no apparent reactions. 4. Direct approaches to within less than 50 m were responsible for a large number of negative reactions from the estuarine dolphins. Procedures classified as ‘chasing’ and ‘direct approach with no intention of stopping’ had a 100% negative reaction. If the skippers used a correct approach, estuarine dolphins reacted positively or did not show any reaction. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.