As many as twenty-six species of whale and dolphin have been spotted in the channel between Tenerife and La Gomera, but as development has grown along the coast and boat traffic has consequently increased, it appears that pods are under increased stress and have changed their behaviour patterns as a result.
While once both whales and dolphins came close to shore, they've now retreated into the deeper, less busy waters of the channel where today around forty vessels, carrying 700,000 annual whale-watchers, seek them out.
Tenerife Dolphins and Whales
Though the effects this has on the creatures has always been pondered, headlines were made and questions raised when the ferry to La Gomera collided with and killed some of them. Subsequent incidents have led to a number of studies, among them those of the Canarian Whale Institute, that have indicated that the marine life was showing clear symptoms of stress when being pursued by tour boats . Consequently, restrictions have been placed on boat safaris, which are now allowed no closer than 60m to the animals, or 200m if more than three boats are present. However, despite both boat and helicopter patrols, the system is hard to police and captains, keen to please passengers, tend to sneak nearer - in any case almost half the vessels don't have a whale-watching licence.
While there is talk of declaring the channel between Tenerife and La Gomera a marine reserve , it seems likely that this would ban fishing rather than the more lucrative leisure activities here.
The possibility of incorporating radar and sonar detection equipment to ferries has also been discussed, but so far little concrete action has been taken and boat-tour operators still flatly deny their effect on the animals.
