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Code of Conduct for watching dolphins in Hong Kong

The following Code of Conduct was developed by the Marine Mammal Conservation Working Group, an advisory body to the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government. At present, the Code is voluntary.

For dolphin-watching, the general rule is: Look from a distance, and do not seek to contact, touch, feed or harm dolphins in the wild.

• Maintain forward progress at a slow, steady speed or stop with no sudden course changes. Boat speed should not exceed 10 knots.
• Only one dolphin watching vessel should be within 500 meters of a group of dolphins.
• Always slow down to no-wake speed, or stop if animals appear directly ahead within 100 meters.
• Never approach dolphins head on; approach at an angle.
• Never conduct reverse throttling in the vicinity of dolphins.
• Never chase or cut across the course of dolphins, seperate mothers and colves, split up groups or 'corner' dolphins between boats, nets or shore.
• Never attempt to touch, swim with, or feed the dolphins.
• Do not litter or dispose of any fuel, oil or other pollutants in the water.
• Respect the dolphins and let them make the choice to approach or flee. If a group of dolphins is difficult to observe and elusive, leave them alone and try to find a more cooperative group.
• When observing, always parallel the dolphin's course at slow speed.
• When observing dolphins which are following pair trawlers, the following needs to be observed:
  • i. the position of the dolphin watching vessel relative to the marker buoy of the trawl net should change as slowly as possible.
  • ii. after trawlers have hauled up the net, do not move away immediately or at high speed. Move away from the area at low speed very cautiously and ONLY after the dolphins have dispersed.

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