Eco-tourism firms join battle for marine life

Published on Wednesday 7 November 2007 00:14

WHEN John Smith left school in 1959, aged 15, there was only one real option open to him - a life at sea in the fishing industry which dominated north-east Scotland's economy.

In the 45 years he spent on the waves, however, a second, and increasingly lucrative, industry began to emerge from the deep: marine wildlife tourism. And when he approached his 60s and began to look for a new challenge, it presented itself as the obvious next step.

Wild Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife and Nature Tourism Operators Association, estimates the value of the sector has trebled since 2001. The number of new boat operators rose by 80 per cent between 2001-4.

The organisation is one of many which has come out in favour of The Scotsman's Save Our Seas manifesto.

Wild Scotland manager Caroline Warburton said: "There needs to be better co-ordination of the various marine interests, including fishing, transport, naval operations, tourism, recreation, renewable energy and conservation.

"In order for marine wildlife tourism to continue to flourish, it is important that Scotland's marine environment is healthy and strong."

Mr Smith, 63, from Portessie, Buckie, found the transition from fisherman to tour operator straightforward.

"I thought with my background in boats it would be no problem," he said.

"We saw dolphins and porpoises and seals and some summers we had quite a lot of sightings of Minke whales and all the seabirds."

He and his son sold the Macduff-based business at the end of the season this year, having served thousands of customers including David Attenborough, who was filming for his Green Planet series.

It is not just former fishermen who are attracted to the profitable sector. Bill Ruck has been running Moray Diving School for eight years after leaving the RAF.

"It is a growing business and more and more people are genuinely interested - it's not a fad or just something to do for the day," he said.

According to the latest figures land and boat-based whale and dolphin watching in the Moray Firth generated 477,000 in direct expenditure and 2.34 million in total per year.

In the Highlands, total expenditure associated with marine wildlife was 57.2 million, 9.3 million of it direct spending.

Sarah Pern set up wildlife watching firm Ecotours in Cromarty about three years ago.

She said: "We have seen a huge growth [of operators in the area] in the last ten years. Things like [the television show] Springwatch have made it a lot more accessible for people. They can see the most spectacular wildlife on their doorsteps."

She said marine tourism made "a huge difference" to the town's economy, and tour operators were keen to co-operate to ensure wildlife was protected.

Wild Scotland is also keen that the wildlife is looked after, and operators do not damage it - which will, in turn, damage their own livelihoods.

Ms Warburton said: "What we are trying to do is say wildlife tourism is a positive thing - it brings jobs to rural areas and engages people with wildlife and gives them the opportunity to get out on the water.

"Some of the wildest spots are places people need help to get to and an operator can help them access these places responsibly. It's a force for good, we hope."