Goals of BADTOFEED – How it works – How we got here (by Denis Richard)
Introduction of instructors by themselves (in order of appearance): Denis Richard (Water Planet) – Elsa M. Haubold, Ph.D. (FWC Division of Habitat and Species Conservation) – Major Bruce Cooper (Regional Commander for the FWC’s Northwest Region) – Special agent Gregg Houghaboom (NOAA Office of Law Enforcement) – Kristin L. Stewart Ph.D, JD (Marine Mammal Laws and Policies, Pactical Ethics) – Dr. Lydia Staggs (Marine Mammal Veterinarian at Gulf World Marine Park) – Dan Blasko (Head Trainer at Gulf World Marine Park), Secret Holmes (Director of Training and Animal Husbandry at Gulf World Marine Park) – Captain Kenneth Parramore (FWC Northwest Region).
Module 1a
Objective: understand the history of dolphin/whale watching, how things can go awry, and important economic impacts of wildlife viewing.
Overview of Marine Tourism Worldwide(by Denis Richard)
– The worst and the best – How did they get where they are?
– Marine Tourism in the US
– Evolution of whale watching in the last 20 years
– Evolution of Dolphin Tours in Panama City – 20 years ago, 20 years from now
– How do we get where we want to go?
– BTF Guidelines
Dolphins and Wildlife Viewing in Florida (by Elsa Haubold)
– Similar problems in Florida
– Attitudes toward dolphin feeding in Panama City
– Wildlife viewing economic impacts in Florida:
Module 1b
Objective: Understand the relevant regulations pertaining to marine mammals and marine mammal viewing and understand FWC and NOAA’s law enforcement perspective
The Legal/Enforcement Aspect (by Major Bruce Cooper (FWC) and Special agent Gregg Houghaboom (NOAA)
– U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)
– FWC’s legal requirements for boating and behavior around dolphins
Human-Dolphin Encounter Spaces (by Dr. Kristin L. Stewart.30 minutes)
– Practical Ethics of Swim-with-the-Dolphins Programs involving free ranging dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico
Watch the 4 videos below for Module 1
Module 2
Objective: Understand dolphin biology, physiology and behavior
Basic Dolphin Anatomy, Desease and Human Interaction (by Dr. Lydia Staggs).
Natural Behavior (by Dan Blasko and Secret Holmes).
– Communication
– Communication, Vocals, Posturing
– Precursors to Agression.
– Human Interaction
Watch the 2 videos below for Module 2
Module 3
Objective: Understand the current science and state of knowledge about local dolphin populations.
Our Neighbor Dolphins (by Elsa Haubold)
– Existing Studies – Overview of a few local studies on the local wild dolphin population: Wanda Jones – Mote Lab and University of N. Carolina Willington, FSU and NOAA – Thibaut Bouveroux Population ID.