Dolphins under threat from tour groups (extract)

Sightseeing boat tour groups are scaring away Chinese white dolphins, according to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

The dolphins are such popular attraction for tourist as well as locals that (留意句式) different businesses have cropped up near the dolphins' habitat that leverage the mammals as a focal point for sea tours.

But some tour groups have been too aggressive and are driving the dolphins away, an AFCD (漁農自然護理處) spokesman said.

From gradual observations and studies over the years, AFCD has noted that dolphins generally surfaced less when there were boats in the vicinity, indicating the animals are sensitive to human disturbance.

There are three main types of dolphin-viewing businesses –– professional dolphin-sighting tours, general city tours organized by travel agencies which include dolphin-viewing, and individual small boat tours which consist of boat owners leading a group out on their own.

Adele Wong
The Standard, 23 September 2008