Anna Meissner

Citation

Thesis Title
Marine mammal tourism in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand: Effects, implications and management

Read article at Massey Research Online:

Worldwide expansion of marine mammal tourism over recent decades has raised international concerns over the effects of these tourism practices on targeted species.  Additionally, the growth and success of the industry has often outpaced conservation planning, including in New Zealand.  Ms Meissner''sresearch represents the first comprehensive assessment of marine mammal tourism in the Bay of Plenty, a region where tour vessels have been operating for over 25 years.  She critically assessed the historical occurrence of marine mammal species in the region and examined the current spatial and temporal distribuption of the two most targeted species (common dolphins and New Zealand fur seals).  She found that tourism operations significantly affected common dolphin behaviour, and specifically their foraging behaviour, and showed that repetitive interactions resulted in cumulative impacts.  Her research supports adaptive management and long-term monitoring of marine mammal species in the region.

Supervisors
Professor Karen Stockin
Professor Mark Orams
Dr Emmanuelle Martinez