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dc.contributor.authorSchuler, Alicia, R.
dc.contributor.authorPearson, Heidi C.
dc.date.accessioned2020-12-30T05:21:13Z
dc.date.available2020-12-30T05:21:13Z
dc.date.issued2020-01-03
dc.identifier.citationSchuler, A. R., & Pearson, H. C. (2019). CONSERVATION BENEFITS OF WHALE WATCHING IN JUNEAU, ALASKA. Tourism in Marine Environments, 14(4), 231–248. https://doi.org/10.3727/154427319X15719404264632 [2020, 8 de maig].en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11122/11666
dc.descriptionAn increasing number of visitors to Juneau, AK, alongside a predictable population of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), has supported the substantial growth of its whale-watching indus- try. The industry provides benefits to the community through economic gains, while the experi- ence can foster environmental awareness and support for protection of whales and the environment. However, the sustainability of the industry could be jeopardized if increasing whale-watching vessel pressure affects the health of its resource, the whales.en_US
dc.description.abstractAn increasing number of visitors to Juneau, AK, alongside a predictable population of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), has supported the substantial growth of its whale-watching indus- try. The industry provides benefits to the community through economic gains, while the experi- ence can foster environmental awareness and support for protection of whales and the environment. However, the sustainability of the industry could be jeopardized if increasing whale-watching vessel pressure affects the health of its resource, the whales. This study investigates whether participation in whale-watching tours in Juneau, AK can support conservation of whales and the environment. Participant knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors were obtained from 2,331 respondents in surveys before, after, and 6 months after a whale-watching tour during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Following a whale watch, the percentage of participants that indicated whale watching as a knowl- edge source increased (p = 0.022), awareness of guidelines and regulations doubled (p < 0.001), and strong support for regulations increased (p = 0.016). Six months later, these responses remained significantly higher than before the whale watch. Despite knowledge of distance threshold increasing after a whale watch (p = 0.003) and 6 months after (p = 0.021), getting close to whales remained an important factor in a participant’s whale watch. Participants had a higher likelihood of strongly sup- porting guidelines and regulations if they indicated that boats can have a negative impact on whales or were aware of guidelines and regulations. Lastly, participants that acknowledged negative effects on whales from boats had higher overall proenvironmental attitudes. This study indicates that incor- porating messages that facilitate participant awareness of guidelines/regulations and the purpose of those measures can support conservation and protection of local whale populations through manag- ing participant expectations and ultimately encouraging operator compliance.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThe authors wish to thank Juneau Whale Watch, Dolphin Jet Boat Tours, and Allen Marine Tours and their staff for their assistance in survey data collection, and Madison Bargas, Taelor Brandon, Gabrielle Lopez, and Robert Schuler for helping with survey data entry. The research was spon- sored by Alaska Sea Grant, University of Alaska Fairbanks (project #R/112-05), with funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (grant NA14OAR4170079), and from the Univer- sity of Alaska with funds appropriated by the state of Alaska.en_US
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherCognizant, LLCen_US
dc.subjectWhale watchingen_US
dc.subjectConservationen_US
dc.subjectProenvironmental attitudesen_US
dc.subjectTourism managementen_US
dc.subjectRegulationen_US
dc.titleCONSERVATION BENEFITS OF WHALE WATCHING IN JUNEAU, ALASKAen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.description.peerreviewYesen_US
refterms.dateFOA2020-12-30T05:21:13Z
dc.identifier.journalTourism in Marine Environmentsen_US


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