Public awareness, education, and marine mammals in captivity

• Yixing Jiang ^[1] ; Michael Luck ^[2] ; E. C. M. Parsons ^[3]
  1. [1] Brock University

     Brock University

     Canadá

     
  2. [2] Auckland University of Technology

     Auckland University of Technology

     Nueva Zelanda

     
  3. [3] George Mason University

     George Mason University

     Estados Unidos

     

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• Localización: Tourism review international, ISSN 1544-2721, Vol. 11, Nº. 3, 2007, págs. 237-249
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Increasing popularity of marine parks as tourist attractions brought with it a number of concerns.

    Considerable attention has been paid to investigate issues, such as the ethics of keeping marine mammals in captivity, welfare of captive marine mammals, and the educational and conservational abilities of marine parks. Little research has been conducted to explore the public�s awareness and opinions of these issues. Public awareness is an important tool to understand the quality of a marine park�s products and services. This study was designed to investigate the public�s awareness of welfare of captive marine mammals, educational and conservational purposes of marine parks, and to examine public awareness and opinions of Dunlap and Van Liere�s New Environmental Paradigm. A total of 120 respondents from St. Catharines, Canada completed either a visitor or a nonvisitor questionnaire.

    Results indicated that most people were aware of the issues of welfare of captive marine mammals and educational opportunities offered by marine parks, but showed less awareness of the conservational issues. However, results also indicated that respondents were well aware of, and agree with, the concerns expressed in the New Environmental Paradigm.