Whale watchers themselves are becoming more and more concerned about the welfare of whales and dolphins. Bad reputations stick and they also travel around the globe amazingly quickly. Finally, competent, careful boat handling, within a framework of regulations, always results in better whale watching. There is no international set of regulations for whale watching. This is because it is not possible to develop regulations which are appropriate for all species and situations in all countries.
Regulations vary from one place to another according to many different factors.
The more boats involved and the more people relying on the industry to make a living, the more difficult it becomes to introduce, monitor and then enforce regulations of any kind. For whale and dolphin-watching areas where operational regulations do not yet exist. If regulations are properly enforced, they will permit whale watching to be undertaken or continued without harm to individual whales, groups of whales, or populations being watched. All available pertinent information, including local experience, can be used to develop and implement initial 'common-sense' regulations. Consideration of an appropriate approach distance to whales or groups of whales.