Whale Songs Stir Awe and Environmental Action Among Coastal Tourists.

As the humpback whale migration season begins along Australia's east coast, new research from the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) highlights the powerful emotional and behavioral impacts of whale sounds on tourists.

Published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, the study found that participants on whale-watching cruises experienced a deep sense of awe after hearing the vocalizations, fin slaps, and breaches of humpback whales. According to UniSC academic Dr. Vikki Schaffer, these natural soundscapes triggered emotional responses that fostered a stronger connection to nature and encouraged environmentally responsible actions.

“When combined with increased awareness about whales, the sounds significantly influenced what we refer to as PEI—pro-environmental intent—such as adopting recycling habits,” Dr. Schaffer explained.

Dr. Schaffer has led annual studies on whale acoustics aboard Sunreef’s Sunshine Coast vessels since 2022. The most recent findings reinforce the idea that sound plays a pivotal role in nature-based tourism, transforming passive observation into immersive, meaningful engagement.

The study, conducted by UniSC Psychology Honours graduate Chloe Kjaer and co-supervised by Dr. Lee Kannis-Dymand, involved experiments using natural whale sounds, recordings, and hydrophone-detected audio. The research also revealed that exposure to these marine soundscapes fostered a broader emotional experience tied to wonder.

Schaffer emphasized the economic and environmental importance of sustainable whale tourism, particularly during the annual May to November migration. She noted that nearly half of global tourism revolves around coastal and marine environments, which depend on the health of ocean ecosystems.

John Fell, manager of Sunreef Mooloolaba and long-time partner in the research, affirmed the study’s outcomes reflect years of feedback from tour participants. “Immersive tourism is about stimulating the senses and imagination to leave guests with lasting impressions and heightened awareness of marine conservation,” he said.

Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-nevada-fish-species-slated-trump.html

This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.