Please note that this is a staging site.
5 datasets found Page 1 of 1
DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.09022026
Behavioural responses of Cape fur seals Arctocephalus pusillus to swim-with-seal tourism activities in the Robberg Marine Protected Area in South Africa

Behavioural changes are often regarded as a key indicator of the effect of human disturbances on animals, and responses are commonly used as indices of disturbances. Tourism is an increasingly common source of disturbance to wild animals, including marine mammals. Swim-with-seals (SWS) tourism is an emerging industry that has grown in countries such as New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. We studied behavioural impacts of SWS in the Robberg Marine Protected Area (Western Cape, South Africa) on the adjacent Cape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus colony through a modified Before-After-Control- Impact (BACI) behavioural study designed for simultaneous observations of impact and control sites (site factor) and before, during and after SWS activities (phase factor). Elevated observations were carried out at distances from the sites using sequential photography of the colony to enumerate seals in different behavioural categories, allowing comparisons between sites and between...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.09022026
Behavioural responses of Cape fur seals Arctocephalus pusillus to swim-with-seal tourism activities in the Robberg Marine Protected Area in South Africa

Behavioural changes are often regarded as a key indicator of the effect of human disturbances on animals, and responses are commonly used as indices of disturbances. Tourism is an increasingly common source of disturbance to wild animals, including marine mammals. Swim-with-seals (SWS) tourism is an emerging industry that has grown in countries such as New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. We studied behavioural impacts of SWS in the Robberg Marine Protected Area (Western Cape, South Africa) on the adjacent Cape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus colony through a modified Before-After-Control- Impact (BACI) behavioural study designed for simultaneous observations of impact and control sites (site factor) and before, during and after SWS activities (phase factor). Elevated observations were carried out at distances from the sites using sequential photography of the colony to enumerate seals in different behavioural categories, allowing comparisons between sites and between...

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052240
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West Coast Cetacean Distribution and Abundance Survey on the Algoa Voyage 231, October 2016

The 2016 West Coast Cetacean Cruise operated on the shelf and slope regions off the west coast of South Africa, between Area 1 (Dassen Island, 18.23669, -33.457 and Groenriviermond, 17.52061, -30.8277) and Area 2 (North-East Robben Island and Cape Point). This cruise was undertaken for data collection as part of a collaborative project led by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in collaboration with the Whale Unit, Mammal Research Institute of the University of Pretoria, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA), Aqualie Institute (Brazil) and Oregon State University (USA). The greater programme is titled "Large whale research: genetic relatedness, stock identification, abundance, feeding and migratory behavious". The large whale research programme has two components, the east coast and west coast components. This cruise focused on the west coast humpback whales.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052234
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West Coast Cetacean Distribution and Abundance Survey on the Algoa Voyage 219, October 2015

The West Coast Cetacean Distribution and Abundance Survey was conducted on the Algoa Voyage 219, 28 October to 06 November 2015. The cruise operated on the shelf and slope regions off the west coast of South Africa, between Dassen Island and Groenriviermond. This cruise was undertaken for data collection as part of a collaborative project led by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in collaboration with the Whale Unit, Mammal Research Institute of the University of Pretoria, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA), Aqualie Institute (Brazil) and Oregon State University (USA). The greater programme is titled "The ecology of Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in South Africa" and has two components, the east coast and west coast components. This cruise focused on the west coast humpback whales.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052228
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West Coast Cetacean Distribution and Abundance Survey on the Algoa Voyage 211, October 2014

The West Coast Cetacean Distribution and Abundance Survey was conducted on the Algoa Voyage 211, 28 October to 10 November 2014. The cruise operated on the shelf and slope regions off the West Coast of South Africa, between Dassen Island and Groenriviermond. The major objective of this cruise was to survey the abundance and distribution of cetaceans, in particular humpback whales, within the study area on the west coast. This objective, along with the research aims and proposed methodologies, are consistent with internationally accepted protocols. This work provided hands-on experience with logistical and technical cetacean specific problems associated with dedicated cetacean cruises. This work was a collaboration with the Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

5 datasets found Page 1 of 1

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