@article{,

title = {Whale watching in Sri Lanka: Perceptions of sustainability},

author = {Buultjens, Jeremy,Ratnayke, Iraj,Gnanapala, Athula},

issn = {2211-9736},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-01-01},

journal = {Tourism Management Perspectives},

volume = {18},

number = {62},

pages = {125-133},

abstract = {Whale watching creates an economic value for whales beyond consumption and therefore assists in the conservation of the species. However sustainable management is needed to avoid deleterious impacts on the whales and the industry. This paper uses a range of qualitative methods to examine the characteristics, management and perceived sustainability of the relatively newly established whale watching industry in Sri Lanka. It is clear that the laissez faire development of the industry has resulted in some poor conservation outcomes for the

whales as well as variable tourist experiences. The Sri Lankan government has introduced legislated regulations aimed at managing the industry however it must ensure adequate human and financial resources are provided to ensure the effective implementation of the regulations and therefore the sustainability of the industry.},

keywords = {Arabian Sea, impact, management, regulations, Sri Lanka, Sustainability, Whale watching},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Surfacing characteristics and diving behaviour of blue whales in Sri Lankan waters},

author = {de Vos, Asha,Christiansen, Fredrik,Harcourt, Robert G.,Pattiaratchi, Charitha B.},

url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098113003298},

issn = {0022-0981},

year  = {2013},

date = {2013-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology},

volume = {449},

number = {83},

pages = {149-153},

abstract = {Surfacing behaviour and dive characteristics were quantified from focal follows of individual blue whales between January–March 2012 and 2013. During this period individual whales were followed from small boats to observe their surfacing patterns and breathing behaviour. Data on time at first surface, length of surface interval, number of blows, final dive time and whether or not the whale ‘fluked up’ before a deep dive were recorded. A step-wise modelling approach was used to estimate a number of surfacing characteristics: mean Inter-Breath Interval (IBI), bout duration and the number of surfacings in a bout. First, dives were classified as either surface dives or deep dives based on the occurrence of arching or fluking behaviour at the surface prior to a deep dive. The mean IBI of surface dives was 17.6s (SD=26.14) and for deep dives, 640.3s (SD=214.38). To account for temporal dependence between dive types, a first-order Markov chain was used to estimate the transition probability between dive types. Time series of dive types were then simulated, using Monte Carlo methods, while accounting for heterogeneity in IBI of the different dive types. The mean IBI of blue whales in Sri Lanka, obtained from the Monte Carlo methods, was 84.7s (SD=11.17). The mean bout duration was 145s (SD=28.31), with the mean number of breaths per surface bout being 9.3 (SD=1.43). Whales also lifted their tail flukes out of the water on 55% of terminal dives, which is considerably more frequent than elsewhere in the world. These results significantly advance our understanding of blue whales in Sri Lankan waters. More specifically, this information is essential for the calculation of precise abundance estimates as it informs the detection probability parameters for line transect surveys. In this way it will help formulate better management decisions related to the conservation of this population.},

keywords = {Arabian Sea, availability bias, balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale, Markov chains, Monte Carlo, Northern Indian Ocean, ship strike, Surfacing behaviour, Whale watching},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Effects of Tour Boats on Dolphin Activity Examined with Sensitivity Analysis of Markov Chains},

author = {Dans, Silvana Laura,Degrati, Mariana,Pedraza, Susana NoemÍ,Crespo, Enrique Alberto},

url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2012.01844.x},

issn = {1523-1739},

year  = {2012},

date = {2012-01-01},

journal = {Conservation Biology},

volume = {26},

number = {356},

pages = {708-716},

publisher = {Blackwell Publishing Inc},

abstract = {In Patagonia, Argentina, watching dolphins, especially dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus), is a new tourist activity. Feeding time decreases and time to return to feeding after feeding is abandoned and time it takes a group of dolphins to feed increase in the presence of boats. Such effects on feeding behavior may exert energetic costs on dolphins and thus reduce an individual's survival and reproductive capacity or maybe associated with shifts in distribution. We sought to predict which behavioral changes modify the activity pattern of dolphins the most. We modeled behavioral sequences of dusky dolphins with Markov chains. We calculated transition probabilities from one activity to another and arranged them in a stochastic matrix model. The proportion of time dolphins dedicated to a given activity (activity budget) and the time it took a dolphin to resume that activity after it had been abandoned (recurrence time) were calculated. We used a sensitivity analysis of Markov chains to calculate the sensitivity of the time budget and the activity-resumption time to changes in behavioral transition probabilities. Feeding-time budget was most sensitive to changes in the probability of dolphins switching from traveling to feeding behavior and of maintaining feeding behavior. Thus, an increase in these probabilities would be associated with the largest reduction in the time dedicated to feeding. A reduction in the probability of changing from traveling to feeding would also be associated with the largest increases in the time it takes dolphins to resume feeding. To approach dolphins when they are traveling would not affect behavior less because presence of the boat may keep dolphins from returning to feeding. Our results may help operators of dolphin-watching vessels minimize negative effects on dolphins.

Resumen: La observación de delfines, especialmente Lagenorhynchus obscurus, es una actividad turística nueva en Patagonia, Argentina. En presencia de barcos, el tiempo de alimentación disminuye y el tiempo para volver a alimentarse después de abandonar la alimentación y el tiempo que toma un grupo de delfines para alimentarse aumentan. Tales efectos sobre la conducta de alimentación puede implicar costos energéticos en los delfines y por lo tanto reducir la supervivencia y la capacidad reproductiva de un individuo o quizá asociarse con cambios en la distribución. Tratamos de predecir los cambios conductuales que más modifican el patrón de actividad de los delfines. Modelamos secuencias conductuales de delfines mediante cadenas de Markov. Calculamos las probabilidades de transición de una actividad a otra y las acomodamos en un modelo matricial estocástico. Calculamos la proporción de tiempo que los delfines dedicaron a una actividad determinada (presupuesto de actividad) y el tiempo que le llevó a un delfín reanudar esa actividad después de abandonarla (tiempo de recurrencia). Utilizamos un análisis de sensibilidad de cadenas de Markov para calcular la sensibilidad del presupuesto de tiempo y el tiempo de reanudación de la actividad a los cambios de las probabilidades de transición conductual. El presupuesto de tiempo para alimentación fue más sensible a los cambios en la probabilidad de que los delfines cambien de conducta de traslado a conducta de alimentación y de que mantengan la conducta de alimentación. Por lo tanto, un incremento en esas probabilidades pudiera ser asociada con la mayor reducción en el tiempo dedicado a la alimentación. Una reducción en la probabilidad de cambiar de traslado a alimentación también estaría asociada con los mayores incrementos en el tiempo que toman los delfines para reanudar la alimentación. Acercarse a los delfines cuando se están trasladando no afectaría menos su conducta porque la presencia del barco puede evitar que los delfines regresen a alimentarse. Nuestros resultados pueden ayudar a que los operadores de embarcaciones para observación de delfines minimicen los efectos negativos sobre los delfines.},

keywords = {activity budget, Argentina, disturbance, dolphin watching, dusky dolphins, impact, Lagenorhynchus obscurus, management, Patagonia, sensitivity analysis, stochastic matrix models, Threats, tourism, Whale watching},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Exploring anthropogenic activities that threaten endangered blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) off Sri Lanka},

author = {Ilangakoon, A. D.},

url = {http://www.oers.ca/journal/volume5/issue1/Ilangakoon_Gallery.pdf},

year  = {2012},

date = {2012-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Marine Animals and their Ecology},

volume = {5},

number = {114},

pages = {3-7},

abstract = {The waters off Sri Lanka, an island in the northern Indian

Ocean, are an important habitat for blue whales, a species listed as

Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The

subspecies status, genetic affinities and movement patterns of this

northern Indian Ocean population of blue whales is not yet clearly

understood but off Sri Lanka they can be found throughout the

year. Sri Lanka also lies on a busy international shipping lane. Since

2009 a boat-based commercial whale-watching industry targeting

the blue whale, has been developing off the south coast, with

annual growth in numbers of boats and visitors. This industry

however remains unregulated in any formal or informal manner due

to the absence of regulatory mechanisms in this small, developing,

island nation. Consequently unethical practices are leading to

harassment resulting in direct and indirect impacts on the targeted

whales. Sighting and stranding data from before and after the

inception of whale watching activities indicate a spatial shift in the

area of occurrence and concentration of whales and a corresponding

increase in fatal vessel collisions along the southwest coastline of

the island. There are clear indications of displacement from

preferred near-shore feeding areas to the vicinity of the adjacent

shipping lane, causing an increase in collision risk. Although these

findings are based on limited data, it is recommended that a

precautionary principal is followed and anthropogenic activities are

quickly regulated to mitigate adverse impacts on these endangered

blue whales. },

keywords = {Arabian Sea, balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale, impacts, Northern Indian Ocean, shipping, Sri Lanka, Whale watching},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Dolphin Watching in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman: Tourist Perceptions and Actual Current Practice},

author = {Ponnampalam, Louisa S.},

url = {http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/tme/2011/00000007/00000002/art00003,https://doi.org/10.3727/154427311X13038402065866},

year  = {2011},

date = {2011-01-01},

journal = {Tourism in Marine Environments},

volume = {7},

number = {435},

pages = {81-93},

abstract = {Tourists who went dolphin watching in Muscat between December 2006 and June 2007 were asked to complete a questionnaire gauging the overall quality of their trips based on four main aspects: safety, educational value, perception of the boat driver's behavior, and overall satisfaction. Results showed that most tourists were satisfied with their dolphin-watching trip and that the majority felt that the boat drivers maintained a good distance between the boat and the dolphins, yet most also expressed the view that official guidelines should be established and implemented. However, awareness levels of tourists regarding the existence of dolphin-watching guidelines were low and tourist perceptions of their trips contrasted with observed practices, which reveal the current industry standards in Muscat to be lacking in many respects. The contrast is discussed and recommendations made for raising industry standards.},

keywords = {disturbance, dolphin watching, guidelines, impact, interview Survey, management, Oman, Perception, Questionnaire, Sea of Oman, Sultanate of Oman, tourism, Whale watching},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Whale watching in the Sultanate of Oman},

author = {Watts, Jamie.,Addy, Joanne.,Carson, Carol.},

year  = {2002},

date = {2002-01-01},

journal = {Arabian Wildlife},

volume = {2},

number = {497},

pages = {2},

keywords = {Arabian Sea, Oman, Popular Article, Whale watching},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}