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ase their costs on those for an average fishing trip, adjusting prices based on the number of
passengers per trip, apparently regardless of season. Prices for a similar tour, run through out the
year, focused on marine mammal viewing by the permitted boat was around half that charged for the
whale watching fee and varied based on occupancy.
Two main types of trip were offered although the importance of each type varied between operators in
Area 25. The “open ocean excursion” style trip lasted around 4hrs, about the same time taken by the
boat-based whale watching permit holder. These trips were the closest in similarity to permitted
whale watching and include general marine ecology and local attractions such as the numerous reefs
and trips to coelacanth habitat. Dolphin-viewing tours were of much shorter duration (1-1.5hrs) and
were focused on finding dolphins, reefs and snorkelling. These shorter trips were around R140-R160
per person but prices appeared negotiable depending on the number of passengers on a boat. Prices
for the open ocean excursion were less clear and were R250-350, based on a price of R700 to R2500
per boat. Final charges per person were adjusted according to occupancy of the particular trip in
question.
Seasonality and demand
In Area 24, the permit holder reported an established whale watching season from 1 June to 30
November each year, with a peak in sightings between August and October. This period also
coincided with a peak in tourist activity and trips per day linked to an influx of tour busses. Nonpermitted
operators described a similar seasonality in whale abundance. The level of activity by the
permit holder during the season was limited by weather and seasonal conditions, resulting in trips
occurring on only around 50% of available sea days in season. During the winter, the period of
daylight was shorter, particularly during the peak August to October period, limiting the number of
trips which were safely possible. Demand was sufficiently high, with the exception of the very early
and late periods in the season, and had increased over time, reflected in increased trips per day.
Occupancy had remained static through this period and was a result of local regulation pertaining to
safe boat sizes. The restrictions on boat size in general and permit conditions, stipulating the use of
only one boat, are claimed to have placed a restriction on business growth and ability to
accommodate excess demand. Non-permitted operators did appear limited by number of tourists
throughout the year, due to their activities being suppressed by the permit holder. The majority of
permit holder clients were foreign (85%), following the trends found in other dedicated boat-based
whale watching operators in the country.
Demand for whale viewing in Area 25 for the two most active operators was largely from late June to
November, occasionally December, though was apparently superseded by demand for shorter
dolphin-viewing trips over South African school holidays in October and December. Most pleasure
trips during the year were linked to South African school holidays when non-divers were present in the
area, the majority of these being South African. This dependence on South African tourists and
holiday seasons is reflected by the proportion of visitors from South Africa being estimated at 70 to
90%.
Perceived trends and opportunities
It appears that whale watching is well established in the region, particularly around St Lucia, due to
marketing by the permit holder and its popularity as a tour bus stopover. This has resulted in an
increasing number of trips and pressure on the permit holder to expand his operation to
accommodate this. Unfortunately, safety restrictions place limits on the size of boats and passenger
capacity allowed, unlike the situation in the Western Cape and other areas with reasonable harbour
and mooring facilities exist. A potential solution suggested by the operator would be an additional
permitted boat, but this is not permissible under the existing permit system. The increasing demand
may provide more opportunities to non-permitted operators. Non-permitted operators expressed
interest in getting permits, suggesting they supported the idea of more than one permit, as it would
allow them the chance to offer trips and market openly to tourists.
Further north in Area 25, at least one and possibly two operators expressed an interest in applying for
permits. They also indicate that more than one permit, and possibly even three, would be possible in
the area. It was felt that a sole permit was not the best approach to take.
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