Respectful and responsible promotion of a natural environment also respects the measures in place to protect it..

Activities in the Marine Park must be respectful of whales and their habitat. A permit system, speed limits and approach distances are some of the ways this environment is protected under the Marine Activities in the Saguenay–St-Lawrence Marine Park Regulations. By being aware and respectful of the Regulations in your promotional material, you contribute to greater protection and the long-term sustainability of the park and the activities that take place there, including tourism.

Endangered Species

Caution! Fragile!

The beluga whale and the blue whale are endangered species that may not be sought out during offshore excursions. A minimum distance of 400 m must be maintained, no matter the type of vessel. Furthermore, a motorboat or a sailboat may not remain stationary less than a ½ nautical mile (926 m) from a beluga whale.

The Tone of the Text and the Presentation

The description of a potential experience can be perceived as a promise, thereby creating unrealistic expectations. Exercise caution in your choice of words when referring to beluga whales or blue whales.

Une image vaut mille mots

Les images ont beaucoup d’impact sur votre auditoire, choisissez-les judicieusement. Bien qu’elle puisse évoquer le rêve, une photo de béluga ou de baleine bleue peut également suggérer que l’activité va cibler cette espèce.

An Image is Worth a Thousand Words

Images have a considerable impact on your audience; choose them carefully. While it may conjure up the dream, a photograph of a beluga whale or a blue whale may also suggest that the activity will target these species.

Are you using images that highlight beluga whales or blue whales?

Make sure:

• that you accompany them with a conservation message (see examples in the following pages);
• that there are no vessels in sight and that the image does not give the impression of human interaction;
• that they show the animal in its natural habitat: the St. Lawrence River;
• if applicable, to promote land-based beluga whale observation.

Realistic Expectations

The blue whale and the beluga whale are fragile species that must not be sought out or targeted for observation at sea. Did you know that only 15% of blue whales in the St. Lawrence raise their tails above the surface? Since this whale species is only an occasional park visitor, it is all the more exceptional to see its tail. It is therefore more realistic to observe its back and its dorsal fin.

Human-wildlife encounters

Show respect by portraying human-wildlife encounters from a distance. If endangered species appear in a photo with people or boats, you could be giving an impression of proximity that is illegal in the Marine Park.

Here are a few examples to be avoided:

• An image simultaneously showing a boat (kayak, sailboat, motor vessel) and a beluga whale
• Video of interaction between beluga whales and the operator or the passengers of a vessel

Integrated Conservation Message

When using beluga whale or blue whale images, incorporate an educational message about  endangered species protection. Here are five examples:

Present an authentic, unique and distinctive Marine Park 

Exceptional Natural Wealth

The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park protects a marine region that contains exceptional plant and animal diversity. The Marine Park is one of the best places in the world to watch whales. Whale watching can be carried out from a boat or from land. To visit this marine protected area is to have the privilege of gaining access to a natural setting where wild animals feed, rest and raise their offspring.

Referring to the Marine Park

Making reference to the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park gives you the added value of the park’s notoriety. You demonstrate that you are committed to its mission and participate in its protection.

A Variety of Marine Mammals

There are up to three species of seals and six species of whales in the Marine Park. Other species may be observed on rare occasions. By presenting regularly observed species you ensure visitors will have realistic expectations that your products will be able to satisfy.

Portray realistic images of the Marine Park to satisfy visitors by bridging the gap between dream and reality.

Access to natural whale habitat is a privilege

Visitors discover a habitat that is important for whale survival, especially the St. Lawrence beluga whale. The protection of these marine mammals and their habitat is part of the Marine Park’s mandate.

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Examples of images to be emphasized

Examples of images to be avoided