43 



Whale watching in the United States reaches 3.25 million a year. 

 It should be noted that it also provides a strong economic base to 

 our coastal economy. Total revenues this year will generate ap- 

 proximately $195 million. 



Let us not compromise such a positive program as commercial 

 whale watching by simplifying guidelines to a national standard, 

 especially when there is not any scientific basis to support the 

 standard. 



Permits for commercial whale watch boats are not the answer ei- 

 ther. We are not the problem. And you cannot regulate all the non- 

 commercial boats with permits either. We recommend that the re- 

 gional guidelines currently in place be managed by the NMFS re- 

 gional directors. Trust them, with our help and expertise, to work 

 together to manage and enforce marine mammal protection. 



We urge the various Grovernment agencies to work together to in- 

 crease public awareness and support for marine mammals, and we 

 would like to offer our assistance in the development of educational 

 programs in this regard. 



We would also suggest having the Coast Guard Auxiliary add 

 whale watching guidelines to safe boating classes. Include regional 

 whale watch guidelines when private boaters register their boats 

 every year. And let us also improve our communication with NMFS 

 and the Coast Guard to increase enforcement and response time to 

 whale entanglements with commercial fishing gear. 



Mr. Chairman, we look forward to working with you, NMFS and 

 the U.S. Coast Guard to support the MMPA, and to educate the 

 public about marine mammal protection. However, let us not make 

 changes in regional whale watch guidelines for the sake of legal 

 simplicity or due to some political pressure. 



I urge you to look at the big picture and determine what is really 

 best for marine mammals. I also invite Secretary Hall and any of 

 the panel members that have not ever participated on one — I know 

 you mentioned your own interest and enjoyment out of it — ^to visit 

 us any time and we would be happy to have you as our guest to 

 enjoy this experience directly. 



I did not know when I came here that the rulings would be not 

 as involved in whale watching, even though it was mentioned from 

 time to time. But I appreciate the time for comments. 



Thank you. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. MacDonald follows:] 



Prepared Statement of Brian MacDonald 



The Northeast Whale Watching Association, represents over 30 members from the 

 whale watching industry, including privately-owned whale watching companies, nat- 

 uralists, research scientists, and educational and research institutions. Its mission 

 (attached) is to woi^ with government agencies to increase the public knowledge 

 and understanding of marine mammals, and to encourage research to support un- 

 dated whale watch guidelines, if needed. We also support the active enforcement of 

 these guidelines. 



I. THE raSTORY AND BACKGROUND ON WHALE WATCHING IN THE U.S. 



Whale watching began on a very limited scale in California back in the mid 

 1950's. The first organized whale watch on the east coast began in Massachusetts 

 in 1975. From a volume and economic perspective, whale watching was fairly insig- 

 nificant, until the early 1980's when a number of whale watching companies began 

 emerging on the east coast, in response to the public perception about the plight 

 of whales, ecology, and the increased popularity of "eco-tourism." On an inter- 



