When the wildlife you watch becomes the food you eat

In the context of wildlife tourism, human experiences with other species are often divided into the binary opposed categories of consumptive versus non-consumptive interactions. What happens when the same person values a... [ view full abstract ]

In the context of wildlife tourism, human experiences with other species are often divided into the binary opposed categories of consumptive versus non-consumptive interactions. What happens when the same person values a species for, and interacts with it, in both these categories? The aim of this paper is to explore ethical issues inherent in tourism experiences where tourists both watch and eat the same species. Although primarily a theoretical discussion, a case study of whale watching and whale eating in Iceland is presented to provide a practical example of the ethical aspects of these forms of tourism. In discussing a situation where the same species is both watched and eaten we seek to explore the ethical implications for tourism, especially sustainable tourism, of this seemingly paradoxical human behaviour. Understanding why tourists who state that commercial hunting of whales is unacceptable, and place high value on seeing the species in the wild, are willing to eat whale meat has implications for the future of the whale industry in both its consumptive and non-consumptive forms in Iceland. More globally, understanding the underlying ethical considerations has significant implications for the sustainability of this and other forms of wildlife tourism.