Assessing Potential Impacts of Whale Watching on Humpback Whale Behavior in Juneau, AK

Whale watching serves as an important industry in Juneau, Alaska during the summer when humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) arrive to prey on abundant food resources. This coincides with the arrival of cruise ships packed with tourists, ¼ of whom embark on whale watching excursions that generate millions of dollars for Juneau\u27s economy. However, because the sustainability of whale watching depends on the abundance and health of the whales, assessment of the impacts is essential to creating a mutually beneficial industry for both whales and humans. Energy is a significant factor in the determination of the fitness of an organism, and vessel presence may provoke behavioral changes among cetaceans resulting in overall greater energy expenditure. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the short-term effects of whale watching vessel presence or absence on humpback whale respiration rate and dive time, which can serve as proxies for energy expenditure in cetaceans. Shore-based observations were used to record the behavior of whales with respect to whale watching vessels during the summer of 2017 in Juneau. Results indicate that boat presence did not significantly impact respiration rates and dive times for humpback whales in Juneau. However, further data analysis of humpback whale behaviors and continued research is necessary to adequately determine if and how vessel presence influences whale behavior in Juneau in both the short and long-term. These assessments will aid in the development of conservation policy and help to promote the best practices for the whale watching industry