Ecología y Conservación de Ballenas, AC with the support and colaboration of Opequimar Centro Marino, 8th Navy Zone and whale watching authorized tour operators start a participative surveillance program to protect the humpback whales that come every winter to Banderas Bay to mate and to calf.

On December 29th the Prevention, Information and Monitoring Program started with the 1st survey in the Bay. The main objective of this program is to promote navigation good practices during the whale watching season, as well as give diffusion to the Mexican Whale Watching Regulation NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010, which establishes the regulations for whale watching. The main idea is to encourage everybody to follow these regulations and to avoid harassment to the whales. One of the mayor tasks has been to inform private and touristic boats without whale watching permit that they have to be careful while navigating around whales and that they have to keep a minimum distance of 800ft of the whales and observe them maximum for 30 minutes and then continue with their course. Is very important to remember that in order to be able to do whale watching in Mexico you need a permit of the Wildlife Ministery (SEMARNAT) and the distinctive is a flag with a whale on it.

During the surveys also fishing nets are monitored, to keep a record, since fishing nets can be dangerous for whales, mainly for the calves.

Till to day 3 surveys have taken place and the goal is to do at least 10 during the whale watching season that ends on March 23rd 2012. The work during the surveys has been intense but very productive. More than 60 private and touristic boats have been informed and corrected while harassing whales in the Bay. Twice at least 15 boats have been asked to stop harassing a Mom and calf group with excellent result.

In general the response has been positive, almost every boat retreats or keeps the 800ft distance.

During the December 31st survey we also helped the Banderas Bay Rescue Network for Entangled Whales by searching a Female that was reported entangled nearby Nuevo Vallarta. Apparently the female was released.

So far the main problem seems to be that the private boats and touristic boats without whale watching permits don´t look out for whales, they look out for boats watching whales, which basically results in the harassment of few whales and mainly on the harassment of moms with calves, which are a very susceptible type of group and also they are the one we have to be more cautious. In several occasions we have observed more whales around the area where the boats are whale watching, but they simply don´t look or don´t have the necessary experience. As a result of this bad practice sometimes we have found up to 18 boats harassing a whale, this affects the whales badly and also affects Puerto Vallarta touristic image. Actually there are many whales in the Bay, you just have to be a bit patience and look out.

Help us protect the whales so they keep returning to Banderas Bay! Only go whalewatching with authorized tour operators. Authorized whale watching boats have experience and should follow up the whale watching regulations. If you have your own boat, please remember that you can observe the whales you find on your path for 30 minutes maximum and that you should keep a minimum distance of 800ft from the whales. The Prevention, Information and Monitoring Program is posible thanks to the colaboration and donation of: ECOBAC, Opequimar, 8ª. Zona Naval, Sociedad Ecológica de Occidente, Instituto Tecnológico de Bahía de Banderas, Albatros, Big tuna, Blue Bay, Briana Nicole, Cielito Lindo, Columba I, Corbeteña, Ecotours de México, Ecoexplorer, Explora Vallarta, Fabo, Googler, Grenda, Karen II, Mismaloya Divers, Miss Viky II, Obrera, Ocean Riders, Orion II, Pegasso Chartering, Productos del Mar Mata, Salmay, Shambala II, Soc. Coop Corral del Risco, Vallarta Adventures, Viento Negro I y II, Wildlife Connection y Whalecome Vallarta. You can help support this cause by making a donation. For further information visit www.whalephoto.org or write to fibbcatalogo@yahoo.com Thanks for your support!