Travel Report for the CRC for Sustainable Tourism
13th November 2009
Submitted by:
Matt Curnock
PhD Candidate,
Tourism & Environmental Sciences,
James Cook University, Townsville, QLD)
Conference attended:
Society for Marine Mammalogy 18th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine
Mammals, Québec City, Canada, 12-16 October 2009
Paper presented:
“Key steps towards adaptive management of a whalewatching industry: developing
sustainability objectives and indicators for the swimming-with-dwarf minke whales
activity in the Great Barrier Reef” (poster presentation).
Summary report:
Conference details
The Society for Marine Mammalogy Conference represents one of the world’s
leading fora for the communication of basic and applied science on marine mammals,
their conservation and current management issues. A diversity of scientific
disciplines and research topics are encompassed, including a growing number of
studies on the impacts and management of whale watching tourism – the focus of my
PhD research. My paper was one of more than 1200 abstracts submitted and was
selected for a poster presentation, among c.800 others. A total of 282 oral
presentations were given in 39 sessions, grouped under numerous themes, many of
which were of relevance to my PhD research and professional interests.
Poster presentation & feedback
Poster sessions were held daily, with authors required to attend on two nominated
days. Posters were located in themed areas; mine was ‘Management and Law’.
During my poster sessions, I received considerable interest as well as useful and
positive feedback from numerous research students and many leading academics. I
was able to meet many other presenters throughout the conference that were
conducting cutting-edge research in my areas of interest and I learned a great deal
from their work.
Workshop participation
A day prior to the commencement of the conference, I attended and contributed to a
full-day workshop entitled “Lost in Translation: The Science-Policy Intersect,” which
explored key issues in the implementation of research findings by policy makers. An
outcome of this workshop included a series of recommendations to assist marine
mammal scientists and students in more effectively engaging with policy makers and
the media to ensure that their research findings are interpreted correctly and influence
policy appropriately. These recommendations were presented to the Society’s Ethics
Matt Curnock – STCRC Travel Report – 13th November 2009
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Committee for consideration and potential development of student training guidelines.
Future outcomes of this workshop may also include a peer-reviewed publication in the
Society’s journal Marine Mammal Science, co-authored by the workshop participants.
Additional activities
In addition to scheduled conference events I was able to travel with some JCU
colleagues to participate in a whale watching tour in the St Lawrence River estuary
(via Baie-Ste-Catherine). The St Lawrence River is a critically important feeding
ground for numerous marine mammal species including endangered blue whales, fin,
humpback, minke and beluga whales and several pinniped species. It is also one of
the world’s largest whale watching tourism destinations. During our tour we saw
many minke whales and belugas, as well as two fin whales (the next largest whale
species after the blue) and several grey seals, all feeding in this immensely productive
ecosystem. Due to the large number of whale watching boats that operate here
(however the timing of our visit was at the very end of the season) I was particularly
grateful for the opportunity to observe how whale watching activities are managed in
this area.
Benefits of attendance
I consider that my attendance at this conference was of great benefit to my
professional development. I met with and communicated aspects of my PhD study to
many researchers from different countries and established personal links with several
of these people. Attending the oral presentations and poster sessions of the
conference provided me with an excellent ‘snapshot’ of whale watching and marine
mammal research globally. I also regard the broader awareness of marine mammal
research strands and emerging issues that the conference provided me will benefit my
PhD thesis and subsequent paper writing, as well as future research opportunities.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the STCRC for
providing me with a travel grant which allowed me to attend and present at this
important conference.
Appendices attached:
1. Abstract of paper
2. Photographs (conference, whale watching & Québec sights)
3. PDF of poster
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Appendix 1
Poster presentation to the Society for Marine Mammalogy 18th Biennial Conference, Québec, Canada
12-16 October 2009
Key steps towards adaptive management of a whalewatching
industry: developing sustainability objectives and indicators for the
swimming-with-dwarf minke whales activity in the Great Barrier
Reef.
Matt Curnock1,2, Alastair Birtles1 & Peter Valentine2
1
Tourism Program, School of Business, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
2
School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
Abstract
An Australian Government sanctioned swimming-with-whales tourism industry has
developed in the northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR) based on the austral winter migration of
dwarf minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata subsp.). The cumulative impacts of this
growing tourism activity are uncertain and there are widespread concerns about the
sustainability of swim-with-cetaceans programs. The geographic remoteness of these
interactions in the GBR poses additional challenges for monitoring the activity. Effective
evaluation of sustainability requires the long-term monitoring of key indicators, matched to
clearly defined objectives, which are agreed by all stakeholders within a collaborative and
transparent management framework. Adopting a ‘sustainability science’ approach, this study
utilised a mixed methodology to develop a framework for monitoring this activity in the
GBR. Principles of Participatory Action Research were employed to engage key stakeholders
(including tourism operators, government management agency staff, cetacean scientists and
representatives of wildlife conservation NGOs) in an iterative, three-step process to develop
species, location and industry-specific sustainability objectives. First, a suite of QuadrupleBottom-Line sustainability objectives was developed based on relevant literature and with
input from cetacean scientists, encompassing ecological, social, economic and management
goals. Sixteen stakeholder key informants were then interviewed to refine the objectives and
explore issues relating to their implementation. The objectives were subsequently reviewed
and fine-tuned in a series of facilitated stakeholder workshops, with 37 out of a total 39
objectives being formally adopted by workshop participants. Concurrent to this process, a
range of potential indicators were evaluated using industry and researcher-generated data.
This paper critically evaluates the process followed, highlighting factors contributing to its
achievements and shortcomings. Future steps and issues affecting the implementation of the
monitoring framework are discussed. A Swimming-with-Whales Adaptive Management
Model (SWAMM) is proposed that is intended to assist stakeholders in the ongoing
assessment and management of this activity.
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Appendix 2
1. Conference plenary session
2. Matt Curnock and Dr Alastair Birtles setting up in the poster hangar/room
3. Small whale watching vessel & pod of beluga whales (St. Lawrence River)
5. Le Château Frontenac – hotel built like a castle.
4. Large whale watching vessel & minke whale
6. Québec city streets by night, (Le Château Frontenac in background)
Matt Curnock – STCRC Travel Report – 13th November 2009
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