Managing for Conservation and Recreation: The Ningaloo Whale Shark Experience

Abstract

The Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation has statutory responsibility for conservation, and commercial and recreational aspects of the Ningaloo Whale Shark Experience. The whale shark experience participation rate had grown by 150% since 1995. In this paper, the ability of the existing management programme to balance ecological, social and economic factors is reviewed. The Department has established a statutory Code of Conduct which applied equally to commercial and recreational users when interacting with whale sharks. The Code of Conduct for Whale Shark Interaction was developed to provide for an acceptable impact on the wildlife and a safe visitor experience. A restricted licensing regime was applied. Studies conducted to date indicate that any significant impact on the whale shark population is unlikely as a result of the tourism interactions at Ningaloo. Social surveys indicate a high level of satisfaction with all aspects of the whale shark experience. An education programme was implemented to cater for industry needs and a local, national and international audience. At this time, the Ningaloo Whale Shark experience may effectively be described as an ecologically sustainable wildlife tourism industry managed by a government conservation department based on non-consumptive use of wildlife.