Going whale watching also means learning how important it is to protect them. Naturalist guides play a key role in teaching people about the threats facing cetaceans. Marine traffic, underwater noise, pollution and human intrusion all disrupt the whales’ daily lives.

Through their explanations, the guides make it clear that our mere presence, with noisy engines or boats that are too close, can disturb their feeding, their rest and the survival of their young. That’s why the marine park regulates boating in the marine protected area:

Personal watercraft, hovercraft and towed water sports using motorized engines, such as water skiing, are prohibited
Drones (aircraft) are prohibited
Speeds on the river must be slow
Minimum distances must be respected
Marine species are forbidden to approach: a distance of 400 m is required for endangered species such as the beluga and blue whale, and 200 m for others.

To complement the educational work of the guides, organizations like GREMM, based in Tadoussac, also play an active role in raising visitor awareness and researching species at risk, particularly belugas.

Charlevoix whales explained by naturalist guides