Scientific Literature: Searchable Database

The bottlenose dolphins of Dolphin Bay, in the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro sustain the largest dolphin watching industry in Panama. Since the establishment of this project 10 years ago, we have observed a rapid and disorganized development of the tourism infrastructure and dolphin-watching (DW) activities. These activities continue to growth without a management plan that can prevent short and long-term negative impacts. The present study is a follow up of the SC64WW2 and SC/65a/SM15 studies presented to the IWC 2012 in Panama. Our results indicate a significant annual increase in the number of DW boats interacting with a group of dolphins within a span of an hour. This increase is significantly affecting how dolphins use their habitat. Overall, dolphin negative reactions increased with number of DW boats present. These reactions included increase in diving and travel frequency, and decrease in foraging and social frequencies. These patterns were intensified when calves were present in the group. Based on these results we recommend no more than two DW boats interacting with a dolphin group and a resting time of 30 minutes between interactions. Although, Scientific Committee recommended to the government of Panama in 2012 to enforce and promote adherence to whale-watching regulations there has been no progress in this respect. Plans for renovation of the current airport in the near future may increase number of flights. Without the proper management plan any future increase in tourism will have serious consequences on this dolphin population. Rapid action is urgently needed not just to ensure adherence to conduct guidelines but training of operators, awareness, and in situ control.