Study: Whale tours don't harm humpbacks

GLOUCESTER, Mass. (AP) - New research published by Gloucester-based scientists has found that exposure to whale watch boats has no negative effects on the reproductive process or on the mortality of calves in the Gulf of Maine's humpback whale population.

The findings by the Whale Center of New England were published in "Biological Conservation," a peer-reviewed research journal. The center has no financial ties to the boat companies.

Mason Weinrich, senior author of the study, tells The Gloucester Daily Times that scientists looked at more than a quarter century of data on 300 reproductive females and more than 500 calves.

He cautioned that the findings don't necessarily mean that whale watching should continue unsupervised, and only look at one potential source of stress for whales.