When eco tours become eco hazards, the very purpose of ecotourism is defeated. As tour boats cut rules to get better views of wildlife they endanger not only the endangered species but also the passengers they carry. Such a tour boat operator has been brought to book.
Juneau, Alaska whale-watching tour boat operator has been fined $7,000 in connection with a collision between a humpback whale and tour boat that injured a woman.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration charged the captain of the tour vessel AWESOME ORCA and Orca Enterprises, Inc., the vessel’s owner, with a $9,000 Notice of Violation and Assessment for an alleged violation of the Endangered Species Act.
As the Juneau-based tour boat AWESOME ORCA was conducting a wildlife viewing cruise in Stephens Passage near North Pass in Southeast Alaska. During the tour, NOAA alleged that the captain maneuvered the vessel into the path of three oncoming whales, placing the vessel closer than 100 yards from the endangered humpback whales. Subsequently, one whale collided with the vessel causing one of the passengers to fall and suffer a head injury.
Such measures are truly required for the safety of both endangered species as well as humans. Source: Alaska Report
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