Whale watching while you surf (the web)
Whale watching has become a million-dollar business around the globe. Mexican operators along the Pacific coast and in the Baja Peninsula have seen their businesses expand as more and more people flock to see the largest animals on the planet return each winter. Likewise, the Internet is becoming a space for more sites on whale watching, as well as environmental causes in general. Take, for instance, the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), which hosted an international meeting on the whale watching industry in North America last March in La Paz, Baja California (see www.planeta.com/planeta/01/0103whales.html for details). Mexico is only the southern tip of the whales' cyclical migrations. The CEC conference sparked great interest among specialists in pursuing cross-border collaboration.
As whale watching becomes more and more popular, look to the Web for the most comprehensive information on where to see these giants of the sea.
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
www.wdcs.org/
/5 Stars
This site is well designed and provides a wealth of information from an environmental perspective. The non-profit research center provides a general guide to whale watching ( www.wdcs.org/dan/publishing.nsf/allweb/B5057A5F83AAF05C802568DB002E1FFF), as well as a bilingual report on cruelty in Mexico's marine parks ( www.wdcs.org/dan/news.nsf/webnews/7DFB38F2E1C879C7802569920035860E).
This particular report reveals a pattern of disturbing trends, such as dolphins trained to perform and interact with tourists through the use of severe methods such as starvation. The document is a must-read for anyone interested in marine tourism. The only technical problem with the site is the long delay in getting a response via email.
Contact email: webmaster@wdcs.org
Conservation and Development in the Gray Whale Lagoons
scilib.ucsd.edu/sio/guide/z-serge.html
/5 Stars
This 1995 report by scholars Serge Dedina and Emily Young set an important benchmark in how academics can provide information on the Web. While the text is a bit dry-it was written for an academic audience-the report, which identifies the activities that have a negative impact on the lagoon environment, is first-rate. Because of their comprehensive research, the document is quite long but the story is well told. Missing from the site are links to the authors' other works.
Contact email: serge@u.arizona.edu
A Travel Guide to Baja California's Friendly Whales
www.netconnection.com/bajawhales.html
/5 Stars
Originally created in 1997 by border activist and educator Lori Saldaña, the site has been updated several times and is an excellent guide to San Ignacio Lagoon. The guide provides first-rate travel tips as well as a modest photo gallery of some whales as well as Baja's unique terrestrial environment. The links section is a bit outdated-reading as if the project to build a salt plant in San Ignacio is still underway (the project was cancelled last year). Be patient. Saldaña reminds readers that the site is managed on a volunteer basis.
Email contact: lsaldana@netconnection.com
Additional Resources
Whale Watching Web
blues.helsinki.fi:80/whale/
Based in Finland, this pioneering site provides numerous links all over the globe, including local eco-tours to see whales first-hand, and a timely review of news about whales.
A Global Effort to Protect Whales - IFAW
www.ifaw.org/whalescet.html
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has long campaigned to protect whales. The organization has also published reports and proceedings from global meetings. Unfortunately, few of these important documents appear on its website.
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