Oceans of noise - Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

- that under Article III.8.c) of ACCOBAMS, the Meeting of the Parties makes recommendationsto the Parties as it deems necessary or appropriate and adopts specific actions to improve theeffectiveness of ACCOBAMS;Aware that it is desirable that other guidelines be developed in the near future to specifically addresscetacean watching activities for research or non-commercial recreational purposes;1. Recommends the Contracting Parties to take into consideration the Guidelinesannexed below when drafting or updating their domestic legislation on cetaceanwatching;2. Asks the Scientific Committee to develop these Guidelines on the basis of the evolutionof scientific knowledgeANNEX 1 [to Resolution 1.1.1]GUIDELINES FOR COMMERCIAL CETACEAN-WATCHING ACTIVITIESIN THE ACCOBAMS AREAPoint 1Scope of the GuidelinesThese Guidelines address cetacean-watching activities carried out for commercialpurposes and subject to the jurisdiction of the Parties to ACCOBAMS.Point 2Impact assessment1. Before allowing cetacean-watching activities, the Parties shall require an assessment on theirimpact on the favourable conservation status for cetaceans.2. The impact assessment shall be based on the best available scientific information.3. No cetacean-watching activity are authorized if there are threats of significant adverse impact onthe behavioural patterns or physiological well-being of cetaceans, having regard to the numberand effect of existing cetacean-watching operations.4. Based on the results of the impact assessment, the Parties should establish special conditions tocarry out cetacean-watching activities.5. The impact assessment shall be repeated at periodic intervals.6. The impact assessment shall be carried out under the special procedure established by the Parties.Point 3Permit135