Areas of Interest survey - Whale Heritage Sites in Africa Prepared by Beth Hinton and Graham Drucker, WCA Secretariat Presented at the Whale Heritage Sites Summit, 28 th June 2017, Durban, South Africa
Aim of the questionnaire To undertake an online survey of stakeholders in all countries of Africa, inviting them to recommend sites in Africa which may meet the Whale Heritage Site criteria for future nomination. To collate regional opportunities, concerns and recommendations for Africa as identified by stakeholders.
What is a Whale Heritage Site (WHS)? Whale Heritage Site (WHS) status is granted to those places around the world where cetaceans are celebrated through art, education, research and cultural events; where sustainable practices and livelihoods are continually improved to ensure the health of cetacean habitats and the long-term economic health of human communities; and where respectful coexistence with cetaceans is supported through law, policy and cooperation. WHS must meet certain criteria: Responsible whale watching (respectful human-cetacean coexistence) Celebrating cetaceans Environmental, social and economic sustainability Research, education and awareness
Where are the Global WHS Nominations Key: North Vancouver Island, Canada Hervey Bay, Australia Port Stephens, Australia Peninsula Valdes, Argentina Nantucket, USA Azores, Portugal Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Potential for Whale Heritage Sites in Africa?
Cetacean hotspots across Africa Reference: Halpin, P.N., A.J. Read, E. Fujioka, B.D. Best, B. Donnelly, L.J. Hazen, C. Kot, K. Urian, E. LaBrecque, A. Dimatteo, J. Cleary, C. Good, L.B. Crowder, and K.D. Hyrenbach. 2009. OBIS-SEAMAP: The world data center for marine mammal, sea bird, and sea turtle distributions. Oceanography 22(2):104 115, http://dx.doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.42. - See more at: http://www.tos.org/oceanography/article/obis-seamap-the-world-data-center-for-marine-mammal-sea-birdand-sea-turtle#sthash.iqxc63or.dpuf
African Whale Watch Operators
Country 1. Whale Watching operators in Africa Benin Cape Verde Comoros Cape Verde Number of Operators (and type of operation based on readily available information on google searches, Trip-advisor and Whale watch guidebooks) 1. Boat 18. Boat, diving 2. hotel based 1. boat Djibouti 1. Boat Egypt 52. Boat, cruise-ships, land based tours, swimming Equitorial Guinea 1. Boat Gabon 3. Lodges, land based Gambia 4. Boats Ghana Kenya Liberia Madagascar Mauritius Mauritania Mozambique Namibia Oman Reunion St Helena Sao Tome Senegal Seychelles South Africa Tanzania Togo Tunisia 6. Boat, lodges. 27. Boat, hotels 2. Boat. 41. Boat, land-based, diving, swim, lodges 27. Boat, swim, dive, land based. 1. Land based 21. boat, swim, dive, land based, lodges. 10. Boat. 20. Boat, dive, education tours. 12. Boat, lodges. 5. Boat. 5. Boat. Resort, education tours. 1. Boat. 10. Boat, swim, dive, education tours. 361. Boat, land, guided whale routes, 5. Boat. 1. Boat. 2+ Boat. Sources of Information include: Africa WHS questionaire results, Whale watch tour operators and attraction on Tripadvisor, Google searches, Whale Watching Worldwide: tourism numbers, expenditures and expanding economic benefits (by O Connor, S., Campbell, R., Cortez, H., & Knowles, T., 2009), a special report from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Yarmouth MA, USA, prepared by Economists at Large. 8
Africa - from whaling to cetacean celebration and whale watching
Online questionnaire Describe the Area of Interest and why are you selecting it? Which species of cetaceans are seen? What interactions/activities are currently exist between people and cetaceans? Indicate the impact of human activity and welfare concerns? Responsible Whale Watching - criteria the area currently achieved? Celebrating cetaceans - what Interest is currently achieved? Research, education and awareness - criteria achieved? The main reason that some of these criteria may be difficult to achieve in your suggested Cetacean Area of Interest? Any other comments on the Whale Heritage Sites criteria in an African context? How could the designation of your Area of Interest as a Whale Heritage Site assist in protecting cetaceans, their habitats and the livelihoods of local people in Africa?
Results from the survey - Who responded? Whale watch industry 18.4% NGOs 15.8% Travel industry 11.8% Universities 6.6% Local and statutory authority 5.3% Dive companies 4.0% Research institutes 3.9% Protected area authority 2.6% Tourist accomodation 1.3%
Results from the survey Recommendations made for 33 Areas of Interest in 22 countries Most individual replies listed sites in South Africa and Mozambique
Questionnaire responses by country Country Number of Responses Benin 1 Cameroon 1 Cape Verde 2 Comoros 1 Djibouti 1 Eritrea 1 Eygpt 2 Ghana 1 Kenya 3 Madagascar 1 Mauritania 2 Mauritius 2 Morocco 1 Mozambique 32 Namibia 1 Oman 1 Seychelles 1 South Africa 18 Tanzania 2 Togo 1 Tunisia 1 Total 76
Africa - Areas of Interest 14
Suggested Cetacean Areas of Interest Country Algeria Benin Cameroon Cape Verde Comoros Djibouti Eritrea Egypt Ghana Guinea Suggested Area of Interest Mediterranean coast Benin coast River Ntem to Nigerian border Cape Verde Archipelago 1. Grande Comore and 2. south of Moheli island Bay of Ghoubet and Gulf of Tadjourah Northeastern Dahlak Archipelago (near Massawa) 1. Mediterranean coastline. 2. southern Egyptian Red Sea coast to Sudan border Ghana atlantic coast Gulf of Guinea Kenya 1 Kisite-Mpunguti marine protected area. 2 Malindi-Watamu national marine park Madagascar Nosy Be island, 3 sites across south, west and north Madagascar Mauritania Banc d'arguin national park Mauritius West Coast Mauritius Island including Bay of Tamarind Morocco 1. Strait of Gibraltar, 2. The bay of Agadir and 3. Dakhla Bay/Rio de Oro Mozambique 1 East Coast Mozambique. 2 Ponta do Ouro area. 3 Ihla de Moçambique Namibia Walvis Bay Oman Sur to Dhofar Seychelles Alphone Group Desroches Atoll South Africa 1. Cape Town area. 2. Coastal South Africa 3. Hermanus area. 4. Port Elizabeth area. 5. South Durban coastline Tanzania Menai Bay Tunisia Kerkennah 15
Are there cetacean hotspots and potential Whale Heritage Sites in areas not covered by the survey?
Suggested areas of interest in relation to cetacean hotspots
Whales and dolphins present in Areas of Interest 35 cetacean species listed Especially Humpback whale, spinner dolphin and bottlenose dolphin IUCN Red List of threatened species Endangered (3), Near Threatened (1), Vulnerable (2), Data deficient (14) Least concern (15)
Cetaceans (and Whale Shark) listed in Areas of Interest
Human-cetacean interactions The main human-cetacean interactions were: Whale/dolphin watching tours (32.3%) Research and assessment (30.8%)
Human-cetacean interactions 21
Human impact on cetaceans 1. Fishing practices (inc. bycatch) 2. Pollution 3. Noise pollution 4. Ocean plastics
Human impacts in African Areas of Interest
Results How African Areas of Interest meet Whale Heritage Site Criteria
WHS criteria - responsible whale watching source: Whale Time
WHS criteria - responsible whale watching The main responsible whale watching WHS subcriteria identified by those completing the questionnaire included: Guidelines/regulations which support international best practices Permit systems exist that manage and limit licences for cetacean interactions Guidelines/regulations monitored by authorities/expert groups Guidelines/regulations developed collaboratively, reviewed regularly and communicated to relevant audiences
WHS criteria - responsible whale watching
WHS criteria - celebrating cetaceans
WHS criteria - celebrating cetaceans
Africa - celebrating cetaceans - ancient art
Africa - celebrating cetaceans - whale festivals Madagascar Sainte Marie island Festival des baleines (July) South Africa Algoa Dolphin festival Durban Welcoming of the Whales - Anstey (June) Hermanus Whale Festival (September)
Africa - celebrating cetaceans- whaling heritage
Africa - whaling heritage and whaling memories Old Bluff Whaling Station, Durban. One of the World's largest whaling stations, with huge potential for restoration as a historic site, educational centre, and shore-base for benign research
WHS criteria - research, education and awareness The top 3 WHS sub-criteria listed were: Cetacean related education programmes delivered to local communities Showcasing cetacean based conservation research and policy Whale watching companies and organisations incorporate conservation directed science and research programmes
Africa Areas of Interest survey - education
WHS criteria - research, education and awareness
Areas of Interest survey - Research
WHS criteria - environmental, social & economic sustainability The top sub-criteria listed were: Economic sustainability -sustainable livelihoods are created, generating local employment Social sustainability - local community take part in decisions Sustainable destination management - responsible tourism management ensuring active and ongoing improvement towards sustainability Environmental sustainability - marine and terrestrial ecosystems maintained and enhanced
WHS criteria. Environmental, social & economic sustainability
Where do we go from here? Does our overview represent the opportunities and issues in Africa? Are the listed sites the most important in Africa? Can we make a short list of the 5 most important sites which potentially could be nominated as WHS? Do we need special criteria for Africa including regional concerns for East, South, North, West? Do the criteria adequately highlight sites which are at the extremes of either being a natural site or cultural site? How do we accommodate cetacean migration routes - Whale Heritage Trails? Do we need a Whale Heritage Fund to support country nominations? Do we need twinning initiatives to strengthen cooperation?
Special thanks to survey respondents and Summit Attendees, Sponsors and Partners