To move or not? Tourists' perceptions and management considerations of a beached whale carcass in a South African national park and marine protected area

Abstract

The handling of beached cetacean carcasses requires social, legal, financial, ecological and logistical considerations. However, limited research on the topic hinders informed decision-making. A large humpback whale carcass that washed ashore at a South African marine protected area (MPA) provided an opportunity to gain insight into tourists’ perspectives on carcass management within a national park and MPA setting. Eighty tourists were interviewed, and a thematic analysis approach was adopted to identify key themes and quantify the responses. Chi-square tests of independence were used to determine (i) whether the respondents’ views on cetacean carcass management were dependent on their knowledge of the site’s MPA designation, and (ii) whether the provision of contextual information would influence the respondents’ perceptions. Tourists had mixed responses to whale carcass management, with half the respondents indicating that the carcass should be left to decompose naturally. Viewpoints were significantly influenced when context and information on the decision-making process were provided, with more respondents stating that no management intervention should be necessary. We propose a simple flow-diagram as a decision-support tool, which, in combination with spatial zonation maps to identify applicable management options, will help guide decision-making for management authorities. Inclusivity, transparency and consultation with experienced role-players from multiple agencies will provide legitimacy to the final management decisions.