UDTR — Radar mondial des droits de la Nature

Regulating Marine Mammal Tourism Management: Challenges and Opportunities for Effective Enforcement in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Identification

Clé publique

doi:10.3390/oceans7050085

Auteurs

Yasmine M. Elmahdy · Mark Bryan Orams · Michael Lück · Heike Annette Schänzel

Année déclarée

2026

Langue déclarée

en

Type source

article

Première détection

2026-11-09T19:04:47.795304+00:00

Dernière observation des métadonnées

2026-11-09T19:04:47.795304+00:00

Dernière vérification HTTP

Non effectuée

Institutions déclarées par la source

Auckland University of Technology · Unitec Institute of Technology

Pays d’affiliation déclarés

NZ

Résumé documentaire — langue originale

Marine mammal tourism (MMT) in Aotearoa/New Zealand operates under one of the world’s most established environmental protection regimes, centred on the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 (MMPA) and Marine Mammals Protection Regulations 1992 (MMPR). Despite this reputation, persistent non-compliance and weak enforcement have raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the MMT industry and the effectiveness of existing regulatory tools. Rapidly changing human pressures on marine ecosystems, including accelerating tourism growth and expanding recreational use of coastal waters, raise questions about the adequacy of static regulatory frameworks. This qualitative study investigates the challenges and opportunities for enforcement within New Zealand’s MMT management system. Drawing on 40 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with four key stakeholder groups—the Department of Conservation (DoC), permitted tour operators, indigenous Māori representatives, and scientists—the research identifies systemic constraints that undermine regulatory effectiveness, including ambiguous legal definitions, difficulties proving intent, limited statutory powers, resource shortages, and outdated provisions inadequate for the challenges of a changing world. The findings reveal an over-reliance on commercial tour operators to perform quasi-enforcement functions, widespread frustration with warning-letter approaches that rarely escalate, and challenges for DoC officers operating in small communities where social proximity reduces their ability to enforce regulations impartially. These enforcement gaps contribute to unresolved stakeholder conflict, reduced regulatory credibility, and weakened conservation outcomes for marine mammals. The study outlines several pathways for strengthening governance, including legislative revision, enhanced compliance mechanisms, expanded enforcement capacity, and the use of external officers to reduce community-based conflicts of interest. The findings demonstrate how enforcement shortcomings can erode the legitimacy and effectiveness of conservation regimes and provide evidence-based recommendations for improving marine mammal protection and governance.

Identifiants

OPENALEX

W7221575780

DOI

10.3390/oceans7050085

HANDLE

10292/22126

Repères documentaires

Famille documentaire

Doctrine

Types déclarés par les sources

article

Juridictions étudiées — sources explicites

NZ

Entités naturelles mentionnées

Écosystème

Les mentions d’entités ne constituent pas une preuve de reconnaissance juridique. La juridiction étudiée est distincte du pays d’affiliation des auteurs.

Sources

OpenAlex · Document 1 · Document 2 · Document 3

• DOI · https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans7050085
• Handle · https://hdl.handle.net/10292/22126
• OpenAlex · https://openalex.org/W7221575780

Relations bibliographiques documentées

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Statut documentaire

Pertinence à examiner

Bibliothèque

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