Evaluating Tour Boat Compliance With Dolphin‐Watching Guidelines in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

A striking 98% of dolphin-watching tour boats in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve violated local guidelines, with proximity to dolphins being the most common infraction. The study, using boat observations and drone footage, also found that 95% of dolphin directional changes occurred away from boat trajectories, while 55% showed increased swimming speeds during interactions. These findings highlight the urgent need for stricter monitoring and enforcement of dolphin-watching guidelines to protect local bottlenose dolphin populations and ensure sustainable tourism practices.

Paredes‐Torres, L. M., Castelblanco‐Martínez, D. N., Niño‐Torres, C. A., Garcés‐Cuartas, N., & Ramos, E. A. (2025). Evaluating Tour Boat Compliance With Dolphin‐Watching Guidelines in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Marine Mammal Science, 41(3). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70004