Dear Colleagues,

We provide a summary for the importance behind reducing boat noise in the whale-watching industry, and highlight the need for incorporation of a boat noise emission threshold into whale-watching guidelines: https://theconversation.com/whale-watching-guidelines-dont-include-boat-noise-its-time-they-did-199977. Perhaps your local or National government would be interested in considering whale-watch boat noise (e.g., by only using quieter boats)?

Authors: Dr Kate Sprogis, Associate Prof. Fredrik Christiansen and Dr Patricia Arranz.

Kind regards,

Kate Sprogis, PhD

Marine Mammal Researcher

Great Southern Marine Research Facility

Albany campus WA 6330 Australia

+61 8 9842 0881  •  kate.sprogis@uwa.edu.au

Recent publications:

• Sprogis, K.R., and Parra, G.J. 2022. Coastal dolphins and marine megafauna in Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia: informing conservation management actions in an area under increasing human pressure. Wildlife Research. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR22023
• Sprogis, K. R., D. Holman, P. Arranz, and F. Christiansen. 2023. Effects of whale-watching activities on southern right whales in Encounter Bay, South Australia. Marine Policy. 150:105525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105525