• Cease contact at any sign of Whales, particularly mothers and calves, becoming distressed or alarmed.
• Allow the Whales to control the nature and duration of the encounter.
• Whales may leave an area if continually disturbed. Respect the marine environment.
• Do not throw rubbish or other objects into the water. Dumping rubbish, particularly plastics, can kill Whales and other sea life through accidental swallowing or entanglement.
• If Whale watching from land, remain within established footpaths and lookout points, protect the environment, e.g. don't trample vegetation, minimise noise levels and don't swim to Whales from shore.

Do not approach Whales closer than 100 metres. All vessels, including watercraft, both commercial and non-commercial, under power or sail, must slow to a speed of no more than 4 knots within a 300 metre Caution Zone.

In the Caution Zone:

• Vessels must allow their engines to idle for at least one minute before switching them off.
• Vessels must minimise boat and other noise, e.g. gear shifting.
• No more than two vessels may be in the Caution Zone at any one time.
• As a matter of courtesy, vessels should limit their time within the Caution Zone if other vessels wish to enter.
• No dinghy to be launched from a vessel within the Caution Zone.
• Vessels are banned from approaching whales from directly in front or behind. This is an Exclusion Zone for Vessels of 30 degrees.
• Vessels must not box whales in, cut off their path or herd or chase.
• If whales approach a vessel, you must avoid sudden changes in vessel movement until whales move on. Vessels, when leaving a whale, must move away very slowly (no wake speed) until at least 100 metres away.
• Swimmers must not approach a whale closer than 30 metres.
• No more than four people per vessel may swim with any one group of Whales at a time.
• No other vessel may be within 100 metres of the swimmers' vessel.
• Before swimmers enter the water their vessel must be at least 100 metres from other vessels.

It is recommended that vessels, if possible, should use an attached safety line (no longer than 10 metres) with an identification buoy. Swimmers should be encouraged to hang on to the line at all times.

The use of SCUBA is banned for diving with Whales.

The use of artificial light sources is banned around Whales.

The use of jet skis and motorised swimming aids is banned for Whale watching. Jet skis must stay 2,000 metres away when in the vicinity of Whales.

Specialists include scientific researchers and commercial filmmakers/photographers who must obtain all necessary permits from relevant Government agencies.

When working with Whales they must use the guidelines. However:

• Permits may specify additional requirements for researchers.
• Permits may specify additional requirements for commercial filmmakers and photographers.
• Any exception to guidelines for these specialists must be specified in their respective permits.