Bias and variability in distance estimation on the water: implications for the management of whale watching. International Whaling Commission Meeting Document SC/52/WW1. (Available from http:// is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/iwcvers.pdf
Distance regulations or guidelines are the most common method used by regulatory agencies to manage interactions between whale watching vessels and whales. In Hawaiian waters, a distance rule prohibits vessels from approaching humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) closer than 100 yards (91 m). Ve...
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ftciteseerx:oai:CiteSeerX.psu:10.1.1.172.1979 2023-05-15T17:10:52+02:00 Bias and variability in distance estimation on the water: implications for the management of whale watching. International Whaling Commission Meeting Document SC/52/WW1. (Available from http:// is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/iwcvers.pdf Robin W. Baird Stephanie M. Burkhart The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives 2000 application/pdf http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.172.1979 http://www.orcarelief.org/docs/baird_distance_estimation.pdf en eng http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.172.1979 http://www.orcarelief.org/docs/baird_distance_estimation.pdf Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. http://www.orcarelief.org/docs/baird_distance_estimation.pdf text 2000 ftciteseerx 2016-01-07T16:03:55Z Distance regulations or guidelines are the most common method used by regulatory agencies to manage interactions between whale watching vessels and whales. In Hawaiian waters, a distance rule prohibits vessels from approaching humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) closer than 100 yards (91 m). Vessel captains and government enforcement agents rely almost entirely on estimating distance to whales, yet research on distance estimation abilities on land suggest a large degree of variability associated with such estimation. In 1999, we used laser range finders (accurate +/- 1 yard) to measure the distance between whale watching boats and whales, and obtained estimates of distances from vessel captains, naturalists, and members of the general public (702 estimate/measurement pairs from 106 individuals). We found a high degree of variability associated with distance estimation to whales on the water, more so than had been documented in land-based studies or controlled ship-based distance estimation experiments with highly experienced observers. A general bias towards under-estimating distance (ie., estimating that the vessels are closer to whales than they actually are) suggests that the distance rule is likely conservative, in terms of encouraging vessel operators to stay at least 100 yards from whales. Distance estimation abilities seem to improve with experience: estimates of vessel captains were less variable than estimates of naturalists or passengers. However, given the overall high degree of variability in estimating distance to whales, combined with the ease of use and relatively low cost of commercially available laser range finders, we suggest that such instruments should be incorporated into both whale watching and management of whale watching activities. Text Megaptera novaeangliae Unknown |
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description |
Distance regulations or guidelines are the most common method used by regulatory agencies to manage interactions between whale watching vessels and whales. In Hawaiian waters, a distance rule prohibits vessels from approaching humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) closer than 100 yards (91 m). Vessel captains and government enforcement agents rely almost entirely on estimating distance to whales, yet research on distance estimation abilities on land suggest a large degree of variability associated with such estimation. In 1999, we used laser range finders (accurate +/- 1 yard) to measure the distance between whale watching boats and whales, and obtained estimates of distances from vessel captains, naturalists, and members of the general public (702 estimate/measurement pairs from 106 individuals). We found a high degree of variability associated with distance estimation to whales on the water, more so than had been documented in land-based studies or controlled ship-based distance estimation experiments with highly experienced observers. A general bias towards under-estimating distance (ie., estimating that the vessels are closer to whales than they actually are) suggests that the distance rule is likely conservative, in terms of encouraging vessel operators to stay at least 100 yards from whales. Distance estimation abilities seem to improve with experience: estimates of vessel captains were less variable than estimates of naturalists or passengers. However, given the overall high degree of variability in estimating distance to whales, combined with the ease of use and relatively low cost of commercially available laser range finders, we suggest that such instruments should be incorporated into both whale watching and management of whale watching activities. |
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The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives |
format |
Text |
author |
Robin W. Baird Stephanie M. Burkhart |
spellingShingle |
Robin W. Baird Stephanie M. Burkhart Bias and variability in distance estimation on the water: implications for the management of whale watching. International Whaling Commission Meeting Document SC/52/WW1. (Available from http:// is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/iwcvers.pdf |
author_facet |
Robin W. Baird Stephanie M. Burkhart |
author_sort |
Robin W. Baird |
title |
Bias and variability in distance estimation on the water: implications for the management of whale watching. International Whaling Commission Meeting Document SC/52/WW1. (Available from http:// is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/iwcvers.pdf |
title_short |
Bias and variability in distance estimation on the water: implications for the management of whale watching. International Whaling Commission Meeting Document SC/52/WW1. (Available from http:// is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/iwcvers.pdf |
title_full |
Bias and variability in distance estimation on the water: implications for the management of whale watching. International Whaling Commission Meeting Document SC/52/WW1. (Available from http:// is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/iwcvers.pdf |
title_fullStr |
Bias and variability in distance estimation on the water: implications for the management of whale watching. International Whaling Commission Meeting Document SC/52/WW1. (Available from http:// is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/iwcvers.pdf |
title_full_unstemmed |
Bias and variability in distance estimation on the water: implications for the management of whale watching. International Whaling Commission Meeting Document SC/52/WW1. (Available from http:// is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/iwcvers.pdf |
title_sort |
bias and variability in distance estimation on the water: implications for the management of whale watching. international whaling commission meeting document sc/52/ww1. (available from http:// is.dal.ca/~whitelab/rwb/iwcvers.pdf |
publishDate |
2000 |
url |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.172.1979 http://www.orcarelief.org/docs/baird_distance_estimation.pdf |
genre |
Megaptera novaeangliae |
genre_facet |
Megaptera novaeangliae |
op_source |
http://www.orcarelief.org/docs/baird_distance_estimation.pdf |
op_relation |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.172.1979 http://www.orcarelief.org/docs/baird_distance_estimation.pdf |
op_rights |
Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. |
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