Scientific Literature: Searchable Database

The dolphin watching industry of Bocas del Toro has grown fast and in a disorganized manner for the past 10 years. The rapid growth has lead to an unsustainable industry that is negatively impacting the local bottlenose dolphin population and its habitat. Despite past IWC’s recommendations the Government of Panama has shown apathy for the situation. Concern with the urgency of the situation last year we took the initiative to develop a community planning effort for BDT. A total of 80 people (30 from the BDT community and 50 from multiple tour companies and associations) participated in the initiative. In addition, we organized five meetings with local leaders and representatives of the government agencies responsible for the protection of marine resources in Panama including ARAP (Authority of Aquatic Resources), ANAM (Ministry of the Environment), AMP (Maritime Authority) and ATP (Authority of Tourism). These meetings took place on August 27, September 4, September 6, November 11, December 23, and May 30. As result of these meetings we identify the three most urgent issues that needs to be address within the next year: (1) restructuration of the tour offer by having specialized tours to significantly reduced the use of Dolphin Bay, and other threaten ecosystems; (2) build a Dolphin Center at the entrance of Dolphin Bay that can serve as a control post for number of boats entering the bay and as a visitor center for tourists where they can obtain information (Sitar et al. for tourist perspectives about BDT); and finally (3) the implementation of the dolphin watching licensing process (and compliance evaluation), to reduced the tour boat fleet using the Bay. The only governmental agency that actively responded to these meetings was ATP and the Vice-Governor of Bocas del Toro Mr. Esteban Chacon. ATP will be funding the construction of the Dolphin Center this year. Unfortunately ARAP the institution responsible for organize the licensing process and ensure compliance to guidelines is still updating the process of certification, which is not clear in the current resolution. This process has taken an unnecessary long time due to changes in government and staff delaying the actualization multiple times. In conclusion, the Dolphin Center will help to reduce boat traffic within Dolphin Bay but until the responsible government agencies implement the licensing and evaluation process this effort may not be enough. The Panamanian whale watching resolution was published 8 years ago without a training, licensing, and evaluation process. The lack of this process promotes an uncontrolled and disorganized whale-watching industry.