The Potential of Whale Watching in the Caribbean: 1999+

worthy plan for this area, or one that would better help to diversify tourism while
providing education and science as part of the deal. In other parts of the world such
valuable multi-purpose facilities would receive substantial government funding.
Also located on Abaco is Marsh Harbour — a centre for boating in the Bahamas,
and a good departure point for farther afield and the more remote islands and islets. East of
Marsh Harbour, on Elbow Cay, there is another lighthouse with a superb view out on the
Atlantic. The town also has a small cetacean museum on Bay St with a map showing
whale sightings in nearby waters.
Here are a few highlights and possibilities from some of the various other islands:
• Off Andros, humpback whales have been found in Tongue of the Ocean, the deep
channel on the eastern side of Andros, in winter. Andros also has dolphins and
the third longest reef in the world after the Great Barrier Reef and Belize.
• At Six Shilling Cay and Egg Island (west of northern Eleuthera), pilot whales
have been seen repeatedly.
• At Cay Lobos, Guinchos Rock and Orange Cay, in the far southern part of the
Bahamas (30 miles from Cuba), fishermen often report sightings of spotted
dolphins.
• Great Inagua — the most southern of the Bahamas, lying about half way between
the Turks and Caicos Islands and Cuba — has a national park, the Inagua
National Park, and stunning birdlife with its system of interior lakes. It may also
be a good environment for various dolphins and whales, but is as yet unexplored.
Humpback whales have been seen passing by the island enroute to their breeding
grounds north of the Dominican Republic.
• Near Long Island and Mayaguana Island in winter, humpback whales are
regularly reported.
• Cat Island has Mt. Alvernia, the Bahamas highest peak, which offers 360˚ views
over protected inshore waters to the west as well as the open Atlantic to the east
— good potential cetacean waters.
But these are just a few leads. The Bahamas has large areas, which remain
unsurveyed and unexplored for cetaceans. With two thirds of the Greater Caribbean
cetacean species reported here already, the possibilities are outstanding for creating new
cetacean-based marine nature trips.
Before dolphin and whale tourism expands, however, and even if it doesn't happen,
the government of the Bahamas needs to put in place a permitting system and regulations
to control the numbers of boats, to prevent touching or harassing the dolphins, to insist on
trained naturalist guides and quality educational programmes on the boats, and to assist
with scientific programmes (by mandating or encouraging the collection of photo-IDs,
etc.). There needs also to be provision for enforcement. Three years ago, a comprehensive
marine mammal plan covering these and other aspects was put forward by Denise Herzing
and Diane Claridge. To date, however, the Bahamian government still has the
recommendations under consideration.
In future, the Bahamas might profitably develop a solid policy toward ecotourism.
At present, the image of the Bahamas may be confused by the presence of a number of
shore-based captive cetacean facilities which allow visitors to feed and/or swim with
captive or what are sometimes called semi-wild dolphins (such as at Sanctuary Lagoon on
Grand Bahama and Blue Lagoon Island near Nassau). These facilities have been widely
challenged and even condemned by ecotourists, certain scientists and a wide range of
NGOs who do not recommend breaking up dolphin families and bringing them into
captivity, even if the conditions are by human definition 'semi-wild'. The need to establish
regulations and define an ecotourism policy is not unique to the Bahamas; indeed it is a
concern throughout the world. It is necessary to have more than just basic laws against
animal harassment; what is needed is a comprehensive policy and programme to address
these matters. It is a key part of the image building of a country.
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