No expansion of whale watching at Kaikoura

Potential new Kaikoura whale watch operations must wait at least another 10 years before getting the chance to set up business.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) announced today the 10-year extension of an existing moratorium on new permits for commercial whale watching off the Kaikoura coast.

The decision followed four years' research by Otago University which showed the behaviour of sperm whales changed when they were being watched, DOC Nelson/Marlborough conservator Neil Clifton said in a statement today.

Whales were accompanied by boats or aircraft for half the time they were on the surface on fine summer days.

While the behavioural changes were okay at current whale watching activity levels, "there is concern about what the impacts would be if whale watching were to increase", Mr Clifton said.

Limiting commercial operations to present levels was "for the protection of the whales and quite clearly without the whales there would be no whale watching".

There are currently three companies involved in whale watching, one using boats, one planes and another helicopters.

Mr Clifton said of the 76 submissions received on the research findings, many called for an extra boating permit to be issued to provide competition.

"Under the (Marine Mammals Protection) Act and its regulations, socioeconomic factors such as commercial competition are not relevant and cannot be taken into account," he said.

The moratorium was first put in place in 1998.

- NZPA