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Slide # 1
Feasibility study for setting up
whale watching pilot activities
in Morocco and Tunisia
Study carried out with financial support
of the French Ministry of Environment
Slide # 2
• The Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea,
Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic Area was adopted in
1996 and entered into force in 2001
• Established under the aegis of the UNEP/CMS Convention
on Migratory Species of Wild Animals
• Its purpose is to reduce threats to cetaceans and improve our
knowledge of these animals
A regional instrument to promote cooperation between
the riparian countries
Presentation of the Agreement
Slide # 3
• An international treaty
Presentation of the Agreement
Slide # 4
Barcelona Convention
and its Protocols
Bern
Convention
Bucharest
Convention
Bonn
Convention
ACCOBAMS : an International Treaty
1991 1996
Presentation of the Agreement
Slide # 5
October 2012 = 23 Parties
Agreement Area Parties Extension Pelagos Sanctuary
ACCOBAMS Agreement Area
Slide # 6
Main Mediterranean species
Cetacean species represented by populations regularly present in the Mediterranean Sea
Slide # 7
To promote local community development
Wildlife watching activities
To diversify tourism
To raise awareness on biodiversity conservation
Why whale watching in MPAs?
Slide # 8
Test (pilot project)
Wildlife watching activities
Income generating activities
Why whale watching in MPAs?
Slide # 9
What is whale watching?
Observation of cetaceans from boats
Strong economic interest
Potential contribution to research
Good way of promoting awareness and conservation
Slide # 10
What is whale watching?
Main traditional boats
In some countries « Pescatourisme »
Slide # 11
• Whale watching activities in the ACCOBAMS area
What is whale watching?
Slide # 12
Rationale
• Supporting the development of sustainable whale
watching activities
• Promoting the setting up of best practice from the
beginning of the activity
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
as an alternative to the loss of income for fishermen
due to depredation (adaptation of pescatourisme
activity)
as a new income-generating activity
Slide # 13
• Consultation meetings organized in 2010 with national
authorities
• Feasibility studies in 2012
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
Mission in Tunisia (28 May – 2 June 2012)
Mission in Morocco (30 Sept. – 11 Oct. 2012)
Confirmation of countries’ interest and pre-
identification of potential sites
Slide # 14
Approach
Identification of the strengths and weaknesses for the
pre-identified sites
Get the involvement of local partners for awareness and
conservation
Developing pilots projects through technical and financial
support
Extend the activity if positive results
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
Slide # 15
TUNISIA
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
Slide # 16
- North coast and Hammamet Gulf with islands
TUNISIA – Period of the year and areas
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
Slide # 17
- North coast and Gulf of Hamamet with islands
- From May to September, Tursiops truncatus and
sometimes Stennella coeruleoalba, Delphinus delphis, and
Grampus griseus
- Other biological interest with birds and turtles
TUNISIA – Period of the year and areas
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
Slide # 18
- Strong interest from authorities, population and fishermen
(depredation on night fishing nets)
- Rich historical heritage and artisanal activities
- Existence of several boats for diving or coastal navigation
- Low cost of the services
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
TUNISIA – Strengths
Slide # 19
- 3 navigation areas (< 2 nm, 2-5 nm, > 5 nm)
- First information to marine authorities (list of passengers, time
of return)
- Night navigation with specific materials
- Difficulties to get tourists on fishing boats for pescatourism
(special agreements eg. boats equipment)
- Preliminary agreement from the military authorities to reach
main islands
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
TUNISIA – administrative and legal constraints
Slide # 20
- Possible from May to September
- Using small sailing boats instead of big «pirates» boats
- Special complementary equipment needed for night navigation
- Possible agreements with fishermen for night seeing (traditional
fishing method and dolphins)
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
TUNISIA – Whale watching context
Slide # 21
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
TUNISIA – Whale watching context Stenella coeruleoalba
Tursiops truncatus
Balaenoptera physalus
Slide # 22
- WW not enough for a profitable tourism product
- Naturalistic and cultural approach needed
- WW by day and by night (eg. fishermen) included into a
several days’ trip: personal adventure, bivouac on islands,
cultural and historical approach, sport activity…
- National and international « Ecotourism »
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
TUNISIA – An original and attractive product
Slide # 23
- Operators to be designed
- Training course (4 days)
- Communication plan
- Partners (national administrations and institutions,
scientists (INSTM, Universities), fishermen, tourism actors,
marine and sport NGO…)
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
TUNISIA – Pilot projects
Slide # 24
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
MOROCCO
Strait of Gibraltar from Tanger
Slide # 25
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
MOROCCO – Period of the year and areas
- The North Mediterranean coast with the richness
and the Strait of Gibraltar
Slide # 26
- The North Mediterranean coast with the richness
and the Strait of Gibraltar
- From May to October, many species into the Strait
and mainly dolphins more to the East zone
- Other biological and landscape interest with birds
and turtles more to the East
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
MOROCCO – Period of the year and areas
Slide # 27
- Strong interest from authorities, fishermen and NGOs
- Strong will from other stakeholders (fishermen organizations
(eg dolphin depredation by the «negro»)
- Numerous artisanal activities
- Already 2 organizations for coastal navigation
- Low cost of the services
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
MOROCCO – Strengths
Slide # 28
- No permit for sailing or leisure navigation
- Navigation area linked to boat equipments, but forbidden from
port to port
- Night navigation quite impossible with tourists (availability of
safety teams and boats, illegal traffic risks)
- Difficulties to get tourists on fishing boats for pescatourism
(unadapted boats for comfort and security)
- Special agreement for transforming pelagic floating nets boats
to tourism boats (administrative and financial aspects)
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
MOROCCO – administrative and legal constraints
Slide # 29
- Possible from May to September
- 3 different sites from West to East :
• Tanger: richness of the Strait with 8 species, but waves.
Best chance for observation (+ Orcinus orca)
• M’Diq: mainly dolphins and turtles, in the calm bay
• Al Hoceima: sometimes dolphins but mainly birds and
landscapes
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
MOROCCO – Whale watching context
Slide # 30
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
MOROCCO – Whale watching context
Slide # 31
Tanger : WW with suitable boats, with the great
chance of having INRH premises with a possible
observatory
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
MOROCCO – Different approaches for developing
WW activities
Slide # 32
M’Diq (close to Tetouan): famous tourist place with
fishermen and sailing organizations, for marine and
traditional fisheries discovery
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
MOROCCO – Different approaches for developing
WW activities
Slide # 33
Al Hoceima : global tourism product for naturalist
discovery (ww, birds, landscapes) with the support of
the National Park (ecotourism activities already
initiated)
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
MOROCCO – Different approaches for developing
WW activities
Slide # 34
- Professional operators to be designated
- Common training course (theorie on 3 days)
- Specific practical training course on each site
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
MOROCCO – Pilot projects
Slide # 35
- Partners
* National administrations and institutions,
(Transport, Fisheries, INRH, Environment, Forest and National
Park, Tourism)
* Scientists (INRH, Universities)
* Fishermen (regional organizations and cooperatives)
* Tourism actors
* NGO working within Al Hoceima NP
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
MOROCCO – Pilot projects
Slide # 36
Exemple of training course organized
by Pelagos (France)
- 30 participants from the French Mediterranean coast
- 4 days, April 2012
- Four main topics :
• Marine ecology (Mediterranean sea)
• Cetacean knowledge (identification, ecology,
biology)
• Possible human impacts
• Marine management and legal tools for cetacean
conservation
A Pelagos / ACCOBAMS label for commercial whale
watching activities
Slide # 37
Supporting the development of WW pilot activities in Morocco and Tunisia
MOROCCO – Pilot projects
Slide # 38
ACCOBAMS Permanent Secretariat
Jardin de l’UNESCO, Terrasses de Fontvieille
MC 98000 MONACO
Tel: (+377) 98 98 80 10 / 20 78
Fax: (+377) 98 98 42 08
www.accobams.org