• ECOBAC
  • ABOUT US
  • RESERCH
    • PROJECTS
    • FIBB CATALOG
  • ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
  • ECOTOURISM
  • CONSERVATION
• DONATIONS
• NEWS
  • HUMPBACK WHALE IN BANDERAS BAY, PREVENTION, INFORMATION AND MONITORING PROGRAM BEGINS!
  • BOATS AND/OR COMPANIES AUTHORIZED BY SEMARNAT TO DO WHALE WATCHING ACTIVITIES
  • BANDERAS BAY ANIMAL PRINTS
  • ENTOMOLOGICAL MYTHOLOGY
  • THE DOLPHINS IN BANDERAS BAY
  • HUMPBACK WHALES AND WHALE WATCHING IN BANDERAS BAYS
  • THE CRAZY YELLOW ANT
• GALLERY
• LINKS

Ecotourism

Ecotourism is a very important tool for the development of local communities and it promotes sustainable development. It can also be a very useful tool for research and environmental education.

ECOBAC wants to promote the development of ecological tourism, through consultant services in the following areas: training of tourism specialized guides, regulations, routes design and certification of services and installations.

ECOBAC searches to benefit the companies that participate with concrete actions in the conservation of natural resources and that promote the economic and social development of local communities.

We collaborate widely with Ecotours de Mexico, a pioneer ecotourism tour operator, which offers a different option for those persons interested in enjoying a unique adventure, and besides having fun, they can learn about the places they visit, support and participate in our research and conservation projects.

Mexican Whale Watching Regulations:
NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010

There are three basic rules for whale watching:
1)Cause the minimum impact over the whales.
2)Be patient.
3)Only go whale watching with boats or companies that have a whale watching permit.

• The minimum distance that should be kept from whales is 240mt. (800 ft.) for boats without a whale watching permit.

• A maximum of 4 (four) authorized vessels can stay around the same whale or group of whales.
  The minimum viewing distance between a vessel and the whale, or group of whales, is 60 meters (199ft) for smaller vessels (less than 10 meters -33ft-in length) and 80 meters (266ft)for medium and larger vessels (over 10 meters -33ft-).
  Vessels waiting to approach the whales for observation must wait at a distance of 240 meters (799ft) from the whale or pod of whales. In the presence of whales, the navigation speed limit within the areas of observation must be less than 5 knots or 9 km/h decreasing the speed to 2 knots or 4 km/h when entering the area of observation.
  At all times the boat will move slower than the slowest whale in the group. In all cases you should avoid accelerating and decelerating abruptly.

• Avoid drastic changes in speed and direction because this scares them and can cause a colision.

• If whales avoid you, change direction, breathing rhythm or modify their activity don't approach them or move away slowly.

• The correct way to approach a whale is from its side and slightly from the back, never from the front, or encircling them because this could be threatening to them.

• Mothers with calfs are very sensitive, so it is very important to be extremely careful when approaching them.

• It's forbidden to cause the dispersion of a group or to interrupt its activities.

• Don't throw anything into the water, especially plastic, cigarrettes or synthetic material that can cause problems to the animals if they accidentally swallow them.

• Neither commercial or sport fishing should be conducted in an area where a group of whales have been identified.

• Activities such as swimming, snorkeling, sea kayaking, jet skiing, parachuting,or scuba diving shouldn't be done in the area where whales are found. It could be dangerous and can also affect and change the natural behavior of the whales.

• It´s not allowed to tow dinghies or any type of object, or drag ropes, lines, nets, ropes, hooks or other similar attachments during whale watching to avoid accidents.

• For your own safety always wear a lifevest while in a motorboat.