Unethical Whale Tourism in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has become a global hotspot for whale watching, offering sightings of the blue whale, Bryde’s, sperm, and pilot whales just off its southern and eastern coasts. However, beneath the glossy ads and viral social media videos lies a troubling reality: swimming with whales is not only unethical—it’s illegal.
In 2012, Sri Lanka banned all “swim-with-whales” tourism due to the harmful impact on marine mammals. Yet, a recent report by Oceanswell, a marine conservation organisation, identified 32 swim-with-whales tour operators in two major whale-watching hotspots: Mirissa and Trincomalee
Furthermore, almost half of the tour operations were owned by foreign nationals, which diverts money away from the local economy. Many of the tours advertised were seen starting from a little less than $300 and increasing to almost $9,000 per head for different package offerings including multi-day trips.
To effectively prevent illegal “swim-with-whales” tourism in Sri Lanka, solutions must address enforcement, regulation, education, and sustainable alternatives. Here are some key strategies that can be implemented or strengthened at the policy level:
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Strengthen Enforcement of Existing Laws
- Increase patrols and monitoring in hotspot areas like Mirissa and Trincomalee using the Sri Lanka Navy or Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC)
- Impose stricter penalties (e.g., higher fines, license revocation) for operators found violating the law.
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Licensing and Operator Regulation
- Create a centralized licensing system for all whale-watching operators, including clear “no-swim” clauses.
- Conduct regular audits of licensed operators to ensure compliance.
- Blacklist and shut down repeat offenders, especially those bypassing permits or owned by foreign interests operating illegally.
3. Sustainable Tourism Development
- Provide incentives and capacity building for local tour and boat operators to adopt eco-friendly practices.
- Work with international conservation bodies to label Sri Lanka as a model for sustainable whale tourism and leverage global eco-certification bodies to support and certify only compliant whale-watching operators.
- Empower local authorities with funding, training, and resources to carry out marine surveillance.
4. Public Education and Tourist Awareness
- Display marine conservation guidelines in all tour booking centers, hotels, and harbours located close to popular whale watching areas.
- Launch awareness campaigns targeting tourists, especially at entry points like airports and travel hubs, making it clear that swimming with whales is illegal and harmful.
- Develop strict whale-watching codes of conduct based on global best practices and scientific guidance (e.g., distance rules, speed limits near whales).
These solutions require the commitment of all stakeholders involved including: government and wildlife authorities, tour operators, accommodation providers, boat operators, and tourists. The rise in unregulated tourism undermines conservation efforts, erodes community trust, and places unnecessary stress on an already vulnerable marine population
Let’s ensure Sri Lanka’s whales are preserved not only for their wonder but for the health of our oceans and the integrity of our tourism. Sustainable choices now will lead to a thriving marine ecosystem for generations to come.
