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Responsible Management
Responsible Management
Explore this section to find information and resources designed to support managers and regulators
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Preparing for a trip
Preparing for a Trip
Explore this section to find information and resources useful to anyone interested in learning more about responsible whale watching throughout the world
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Industry support
Industry Support
Explore this section to find information and resources useful to whale watching tour operators and guides or other industry professionals
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Species information
Species Information
Click on one of the icons to the right to reveal a full description of the species with photos and labeled illustrations useful for species identification, as well as information on biology, ecology and conservation status of each species. Click here to find downloadable PDF fact sheets for each of the species featured on this site.
Guideline Documents
Although there is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach to regulating whale watching, the IWC's Scientific Committee and Standing Working Group on Whale watching have drafted some general principles for whale watching.
In 2012 Dr. Carole Carson compiled English translations of whale watching guidelines from over 50 countries and local or regional organisations around the globe. This IWC-sponsored compendium has been a valuable resource to managers around the world. A number of the guidelines published in the 2012 compendium have been updated, and the table below provides direct links to whale watching regulations and guidelines from various countries, territories, and regional networks. Please contact the site administrator (secretariat@iwc.int) if you note any documents that are out of date or faulty links.
- Title
- Country / Organisation
- Download
ACCOBAMS High Quality Whale Watching Guidelines - brochure format
France (Mainland and Overseas)
ACCOBAMS_MOP4_Res.4.7- Guidelines for commercial cetacean watching in the ACCOBAMS Area
Italy France (Mainland and Overseas)
ACCOBAMS_MOP6_Res6.20- Commercial cetacean watching in the ACCOBAMS area
Italy France (Mainland and Overseas)
Arctic_AECO_Cetacean Guidelines
Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators
Arctic_AECO_Community Guidelines
Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators
Arctic_Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators-Cetacean Guidelines
Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators
UN Environment Programme
CMS Resolution on Sustainable Boat-based Marine Tourism
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)
CMS Species-specific Guidelines for Boat-based Wildlife Watching
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)
Dominican Republic_English Translation from 2012 IWC Compendium Guidelines
Dominican Republic
France - 2021 The Approach and Observation of Cetaceans in La Reunion
France (Mainland and Overseas)
France (Mainland and Overseas)
France (Mainland and Overseas)
France (Mainland and Overseas)
France-Regulation for marine mammal watching in Mayotte (French)
France (Mainland and Overseas)
France-tour operators charter for marine mammal watching in Mayotte (French)
France (Mainland and Overseas)
Greenland_whale watching guidelines_English_Danish
Denmark (Greenland)
IWC 2012 Carole Carson Compendium of whale watching Regulations (English)
International Whaling Commission
Pacific Regional Guidelines for Whale & Dolphin Watching_2008
SPREP - Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
Pelagos Sanctuary- Code of Conduct for whale watching (English)
France (Mainland and Overseas) Italy
Reunion charter for responsible viewing of marine mammals and turtles (French)
France (Mainland and Overseas)
United Kingdom_Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004
United Kingdom
United States Marine Mammal Protection Act (downloaded August 2017)
United States of America
United States_NOAA summary of approach regulations from MMPA
United States of America