Transcript
AUNOFO HAVEA FUNAKI: Whale watching in Vava'u, Tonga, is an amazing thing to do. But my perspective is, if we can't do sustainable tourism, I think it's going to be harmful for the whales.
DON WISEMAN: You're suggesting that it's not sustainable, that what is happening at the moment can't last.
AHF: Yeah, what I saw was that too many licences were issued in Vava'u and also too many boats. We're talking about what I saw last year. This year I know there's going to be better decisions coming out from the parliament, according to what they saw is happening. I thought last year [there were] too many boats out there. I know the whales coming to Vava'u and to Tonga is different every year but last year was less, and they came late. Some years they come late and some years they come earlier. And last year I was sailing between here, and Ha'apai and Tongatapu a few times - many whales in Ha'apai and Tongatapu. In Vava'u it's less - I think it's too many boats.
DW: Are you suggesting that there are less whales coming because there aren't so many boats around?
AHF: They stay too far away from the island [unlike what] they used to. They used to come around here. You know, the whales, you know, we stopped killing them and then whatever we do they're still coming. They know this is where they come to give birth and mate here. But with more boats out there every day it's going to send them away. It's how they think.
DW: You said earlier that you think there are going to be less licences this year. Things are happening as you want them to happen?
AHF: I think so, but it's not my decision. I just put out there what my experience is out there doing whale watching for many years here - not only in Tonga, but I've experience the Pacific as well. The only thing is we have to look at a way how we can maintain as sustainable tourism that can benefit not only the whales, [but] benefit the operators, benefit the government, communities and everyone in the Pacific. So as we look at what would benefit the whole region and the whole community - everything - we should think of looking at less boats out there.
DW: Talking about sustainability, you take a vaka out?
AHF: There are a few vaka there in New Zealand, but here it's pretty new for everyone. It's really good to have a vaka to do the whale watching. A lot of people coming to do the whale watching, they are professional photographers and they are television crew. They want to get out there fast, and that's the thing we were looking at.
DW: You are using a vaka at this stage?
AHF: I did. I put the vaka here from 2010 and 2010, 2012, 2013, '15 and last year. I did it because I wanted to try a different way how. And I know for sure it's worked very well: It's very calm, peaceful and the whales come to us. We didn't go to them because when we're close to the whales I use only the sail. But from outside, the way the people are looking at getting there faster is not appropriate for them for the people to see. Not only is it good for the whales, but good for everything.
