New Zealand is internationally famous for its eco-tourism.
Encounters with marine mammals are particularly popular, and tourists of all ages come to see whales and dolphins and to swim with them wherever possible.
In the last decade, New Zealand Fur Seals have excited thousands of visitors. These inquisitive and beautiful animals are better known as "clowns of the sea" with their limpid eyes astonishing repertoire of underwater acrobatics.
Seal acrobatics off the Kaikoura Coast
Kaikoura, situated midway between Christchurch and Picton on the East Coast of the South Island, is one of the best destinations for whale watching and swimming with dolphins and seals. However, as the popularity of tourist ventures to see these mammals have increased, so too has concern about their welfare.
The New Zealand Government through the Department of Conservation has set limits on the number of tourist operations that are permitted in eco-tourist areas. Permits to visit and interact with each of the mammal species are limited in number. For fur seals, the Department of Conservation has declared an additional 10-year moratorium (from 2003) on new permits for tourism operations along the Kaikoura coast.
Up close and personal with a New Zealand fur seal
Sale of Seal Swimming Permit
A Permit issued in 1997 has come on to the market. This permit is currently leased to a PADI Dive Instruction Centre business in Kaikoura (http://www.divekaikoura.co.nz/). Staff at the Centre organise trips according to demand and provide all necessary equipment.
Seals love the interaction and will play for hours
As the new owner of the Permit, you would be free to market and operate your own seal swimming business from Kaikoura. Up to 9 tourists are permitted on each trip and up to 4 trips can be run per day during the summer season. There is also potential to extend revenues through merchandise sales.
As a tourism operator, you would need an Inshore Skipper Licence (or employ a suitable person) to operate the boat to the seal colony.
The seaside settlement of Kaikoura is overlooked by majestic mountains that are snow-capped for many months of the year. This unique combination of ocean and mountains offers stunning coastal alpine scenery and a host of eco-tourism oriented activities.
Kaikoura has a permanent population of approximately 3,200 residents although the town has over one million visitors each summer. While eco-tourism is a major focus for local business, Kaikoura has a booming dairy farming industry as well as being a significant fishing port.
The waters off the Kaikoura peninsula provide a rich habitat for marine mammals and seabirds making it an ideal place for getting 'close to nature'. Several different species of whale can be seen off Kaikoura at different times of the year but giant Sperm Whales are present all year round.
Kaikoura has numerous galleries in and around the town that display the work of local artists and craftspeople. Their work includes gold gilding, pottery, paintings and prints, jewellery, wood turning, knitted garments and much more.
To find out more about Kaikoura and eco-tourism, click on:
http://www.kaikoura.co.nz/
http://www.kaikoura.govt.nz/
http://www.virtual-kaikoura.com/
http://www.whales.co.nz
http://www.dolphin.co.nz/kaikoura/
http://www.divekaikoura.co.nz/
http://www.worldofwhales.co.nz/
http://www.sealswimkaikoura.co.nz/
