Indian Ocean Rim Association Whale and Dolphin Watching Workshop

The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) whale and dolphin watching workshop was held in Colombo under the theme “Building Sustainable Whale and Dolphin Watching Tourism in the Indian Ocean Region”. The Workshop brought together governmental policy makers and scientists to enable IORA Member States to share experiences in managing whale and dolphin watching tourism and gain access to international whale and dolphin watching expertise.

The objectives of the workshop were to promote regional cooperation between IORA Member States; build relationships between public sector organizations in IORA Member States to build capacity to undertake government-related functions to achieve sustainable whale and dolphin watching tourism; support the development of a regional, best practice approach to sustainable whale and dolphin watching; improve understanding among IORA Member States of whale and dolphin watching tourism as an important Blue Economy sector; and promote women’s leadership and economic empowerment in whale and dolphin watching tourism in the region.

The workshop was supported by the Australian Government – Department of the Environment and was organized in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the IORA Secretariat, International Whaling Commission (IWC), Murdoch University’s Cetacean Research Unit and the IPS.

Bryce Hutchesson, Australian High Commissioner-designate was the Guest of Honour at the event while Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Hon. Gamini Jayawickrema Perera joined the second day of technical sessions.

Visit us on Flickr and on Facebook for more pictures of the inauguration and technical sessions of the workshop.

Media Highlights

Economy Next, 25th February 2016

The Island, 2nd March 2016

Daily FT, 3rd March 2016

Daily Mirror, 3rd March 2016

LBO, 3rd March 2016

Front Page, 3rd March 2016