Using Ostrom's common-pool resource theory to build toward an integrated ecosystem-based sustainable cetacean tourism system in Hawai`i

Abstract

and Clyde Streets, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand This paper explores the suitability of community-based conservation measures to complement a proposed command-and-control approach for two multi-user bays with spinner dolphins in Hawai`i, USA, which have considerable dolphin watching tourist activities and human-dolphin interactions. The paper uses Ostrom's common-pool resource theory as an analytical lens, with an assessment of the attributes of the resource and the user(s) to explore questions of governance and sustainability. In Hawai`i, spinner dolphins move predictably from offshore overnight feeding grounds into shallow bays for daytime rest, interacting frequently with humans using these bays for tourism and other social, recreational, and subsistence purposes. To reduce the current negative interactions with dolphins, managers are seeking to implement a command-and-control approach, namely time-area closures. Our analysis indicates that viewing the bay as a resource with tourism as one of many human demands, instead of specifically focusing on dolphins, reflects an ecosystem-based approach and acknowledges complex management demands. We found that while unrealistic to expect community-based conservation to spontaneously emerge here, cultivating some of Ostrom's attributes among stakeholders might lead to a more productive set of institutional arrangements that would benefit the dolphin population, with the methodology used potentially leading to a global management model.

Acoustic response of Hawaiian spinner dolphins to human disturbance

“…Bay 2 is a popular coral reef snorkeling destination and people visit this bay for purposes other than interacting with the dolphins. However, human activities in Bay 1 are dolphin-centric with significantly more human activity occurring when dolphins are present (Heenehan et al, 2014). This supports our conclusion that although the activity levels may be high, tourism that is not dolphin-centric (Bay 2) appears less disruptive for the dolphins in the bay than tourism that it dolphin centric (Bay 1).…”

“…A major difference between Bay 1 and Bay 2 is the focus of human activity in the bays. Heenehan et al (2014) showed that in Bay 2 there was no significant difference in vessels, swimmer/snorkelers or kayaks when dolphins were present versus when they were absent indicating the activity in Bay 2 is not dolphin-centric. Bay 2 is a popular coral reef snorkeling destination and people visit this bay for purposes other than interacting with the dolphins.…”

“…Given the timing of their entry into the bays and the predictable nature of their presence, a wildlife tourism industry seeking to interact with the animals has emerged (Heenehan et al, 2014). In fact, the level of human impact on the dolphins in these bays has been of concern for more than a decade (NOAA, 2006) with dolphins exposed to human activities approximately 82% of the time during daytime hours with very little time between disturbances (Tyne, 2015).…”

Evaluating monitoring methods for cetaceans

“…Clearly, the need for future estimates and evaluation of change in the Hawaii Island spinner dolphin population size is a priority for managers because of the small population size (Tyne et al 2014), its genetic isolation (Andrews et al 2010) and the use of the four bays important for resting spinner dolphins , where the dolphins encounter significant numbers of human activities on a daily basis (Heenehan et al 2015) .…”

“…They forage cooperatively offshore at night, and return to sheltered bays to socialise and rest during the day (Norris and Dohl 1980;Norris et al 1994;Benoit-Bird and Au 2009;Tyne et al 2015) during which time the bays are also used extensively by people for tourism, recreational and subsistence purposes (Heenehan et al 2015). Some of these activities, in particular nature-based tourism, engage in repeated, close-up encounters with dolphins on a daily basis (Heenehan et al 2015). These close-up encounters may have negative consequences for spinner dolphins, which is a major concern for managing the population.…”