Whale watching cruises at De Gi are becoming increasingly popular

Whales have been sighted along the De Gi estuary, Cat Khanh commune, Phu Cat district (Binh Dinh), and Vung Boi, Vinh Loi, My Thanh commune, Phu My district (Binh Dinh) regions since the end of July. The sight of this unique fish drew tourists from all over the world, photographers, and several scientific professionals.

According to the People's Committee of Cat Khanh commune, Phu Cat district, the number of visitors visiting the De Gi sea region to see blue whales has surged considerably in the last 10 days. Many boats that were once used for fishing are now employed to ferry visitors to see whales in this area. Each train costs between 1.2 and 1.5 million VND.

The sequence of photographs and videos of mother and young whales in De Gi went viral on social media. Many travel organizations or people involved in tourism publish marketing for whale watching cruises on the De Gi sea, however, many of which are impromptu tours.

Last weekend, Ha Dieu Anh (Dong Nai) and her family traveled to Binh Dinh. She had previously seen an advertisement for a whale viewing excursion that cost 650,000 VND per person, which included the cost of paddling to observe whales and serving lunch.

"There were 8 tourists, 1 driver, 1 co-driver, and no guide on tour. I signed up for the entire family after seeing an ad. The two drivers and their aide had little understanding of tourism to share with customers" 

Ms. Dieu Anh said. she continued, "I went online to read facts to introduce to my children."

Dieu Anh's family is disappointed since the trip did not go as planned. "Fortunately, the boat driver and his assistant are both locals. They are honest and incredibly appreciative of whales, despite the fact that they are not adept at tourism. They always tell people not to litter, not to bring the boat too close to the whale, "Ms. Dieu Anh said.

Many people are concerned that the sudden emergence of whale watching trips may endanger the mother and offspring of whales in De Gi.

Photographer and travel blogger Ngo Tran Hai An (Qui Coc Tu) - the owner of a series of whale shots taken in De Gi that sparked a social media frenzy - stated: "We should limit our distance when seeing or photographing whales. Ships and boats should be parked far away from whales to prevent noise and avoid harming them."

Mr. Do Thanh Toan (Toan Tommy, 37, tour guide), one of the first persons to uncover and post whale photos at De Gi, declined to take whale watching trips around a month ago. Mr. Toan revealed: "When I first spotted the 6, 7 whales, I wanted to share this magnificent photograph with the rest of the community. I also took several visitors on a whale-watching excursion. Yet when I realized that there were just two whales remaining, I was concerned that too many boats might cause the whales to panic, jeopardizing their safety and life " Toan stated.

According to Toan, contemporary whale watching tourism activities are primarily spontaneous. As a result, both locals and visitors should be concerned about environmental and whale conservation. "I'm a De Gi local who is also interested in tourism. I want to pursue sustainable tourism and preserve the environment, not for economic reasons," Toan stated.

Authorities' recommendations

The Binh Dinh Provincial Department of Fisheries recently collaborated with the Center for Conservation of Biodiversity and Endangered Species (CBES) to undertake a field survey in the De Gi sea area to verify whale information. CBSE specialists determined that the whales that were recently spotted in the De Gi sea were Bryde whales. This species is listed in Appendix 1 of CITES, which prohibits international trade and transportation; the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wildlife CMS; and the VU level (at risk) in accordance with Decision 82/2008 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on the announcement of the List of rare and endangered aquatic species in Vietnam that must be protected, restored, and developed.

According to scientists on the CBES survey team, the mission recorded hundreds of spontaneous visitors arriving to view whales during four days of research in De Gi seas. "The arrival of whales in De Gi seas, if effectively managed and safeguarded, can bring major advantages from tourism activities to the local community. On the contrary, if management measures are not implemented, the level of overcrowding might have negative repercussions for both whales and humans. Although bryde whales are friendly natural creatures, they have the impulse to protect themselves if disturbed or attacked. This impulse is stronger in female whales that are rearing young "- Scientists advise.

Bryde whales communicate via infrasound (sounds with frequencies less than 20Hz), according to CBES experts. The sound of ship engines can interfere with whales' ability to hear, creating stress. If the situation persists, the mother and newborn whales may flee or venture into unsuitable environments to avoid human contact. In the worst-case scenario, they can run aground due to stress and disorientation. Furthermore, the presence of too many passenger ships (particularly high-speed canoes) in the whale feeding region might result in collisions between ships and whales. These encounters frequently result in lasting impairment or even death for whales.

Although the study team has not found any evidence of whale injury in the De Gi sea, it nonetheless urges authorities to take immediate action to manage and maintain this rare marine mammal.

According to Mr. Tran Van Phuc, Director of the Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, once the whales emerged in the De Gi sea region on a regular basis, the Binh Dinh Provincial Department of Fisheries requested boats and services. To avoid harming the fish, whale watching tourism must maintain a safe distance of at least 100 meters. At the same time, vessels sailing through their feeding zones must exercise caution to prevent striking or being struck by whales.

According to Mr. Tran Van Thanh, Director of the Binh Dinh Department of Tourism, this unit has conducted communication operations to promote whale images in the De Gi sea in order to present the province's marine tourism. The Department of Tourism, on the other hand, collaborates with other agencies and towns to educate tourists about whale preservation and environmental protection. The agency will also survey and inspect whale watching cruises.

Linh Trang