Hello,

I am working with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada on a
project related to tourism and whale watching in the Gully Marine
Protected Area, located in the offshore waters of Nova Scotia.  In
particular, I am looking for whale watching guidelines, protocols, or
regulations from other countries that apply to bottlenose
or other beaked whales. I am wondering if there are related articles or 
 specific studies concerning behavioural reponses of bottlenose and beaked whales around whale watching boats.

In Nova Scotia, we have a population of Northern bottlenose
whales (Hyperoodon Ampullatus) that are found year round in several
canyons.  There may be growing interest from tour operators to bring
visitors to this area to view these whales.

In addition, I am looking for information on commercial whale watching practices that occur in open ocean environments/offshore areas (12nm and beyond).

Any information that you can provide would be great!

Thanks,
Mairi Edgar

pmairiedgar@hotmail.com