According to NRK, a guide at Brim Explorer reported seeing 23 boats surrounding a single group of whales, and described a boat positioning itself directly above a feeding pod, sending snorkelers just three meters from the animals. Brim Explorer collected 96 observations from the previous season in Northern Norway documenting what they consider questionable behavior. Marine biologist Giulia Ercoletti, also a guide at Brim Explorer, told NRK that whales dive longer and change direction—behavior recognized as stress—and that guests sometimes ask if the whales are okay. A captain at Brim Explorer described aggressive behavior involving high speed and proximity to whales.
Industry actors in Troms and Finnmark are demanding that Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth introduce national regulations. In a press release, they warn that whale welfare and guest and crew safety are at risk due to inadequate training and increasing traffic. Current voluntary guidelines and regulations are considered insufficient. Agnes Árnadóttir, CEO of Brim Explorer, told NRK that something must be done to prevent unprofessional development, that too many boats ignore Visit Tromsø's guidelines, and that a licensing system—common in other countries—would deter violations. She denied that Brim Explorer seeks to hinder competition, stating the industry is united in wanting change.
In one case we saw 23 boats on one group of whales.
Oddgeir Sagerup, CEO of See & Explore AS, told NRK that operators want to be there on the animals' terms and that no one is aggressive or wants to scare whales. He did not recognize all the conditions described by Brim Explorer, except that there may be too many boats around one pod at times. Sagerup said his company may increase speed slightly when a whale swims in one direction but keeps distance and enjoys the sight with the engine off. See & Explore AS does not offer snorkeling.
One of the boats positioned itself directly above where a whale pod was feeding, and sent snorkelers out, only three meters from the whales. It was an unsafe situation and very disturbing to witness.
We see that the whales dive longer and change direction. Such behavior is easily recognized as stress in the animals.
Guests sometimes come up to us and ask if the whales are okay.
Something must be done, so that the industry does not continue to develop in an unprofessional direction.
There are too many boats, and too many who do not follow the guidelines set by Visit Tromsø.
Violations of the guidelines can lead to loss of license, which will therefore have a deterrent effect.
No. It may look like that from the outside, but we are a united industry that wants change.
It is absolutely fundamental. If we experience violations in our own ranks, we must also take corrective action; that has happened.
We who are out there absolutely want to be there on the animals' terms. None of us are aggressive or want to scare whales. That would in any case ruin the whole product.
Apart from the fact that there may be a few too many boats around one whale pod at times.
We can increase speed a little when we see a whale swimming in one direction, but we keep distance, and enjoy the sight with the engine off.