The Potential of Whale Watching in the Caribbean: 1999+

3. Avoid speeds over 10 knots or sudden changes in speed or direction within 1500 feet of
a whale; do not travel faster than the slowest whale when paralleling or following them.
(Whales are easily startled by unfamiliar objects, many have come from areas where
contact with boats is rare and some may even have been hunted.)
4. Do not allow your vessel to cause the whale to change direction. (Disturbance has
driven whales away from critical habitats.)
5. Do not call other boats to a whale and if more than one boat is present ensure that the
whale is free to move in any direction. (Too many boats confuse whales; an arc of 180
degrees should always remain open in front of the whales.)
6. Never allow a boat or person to come between a mother and a calf. (Disruption of
parental care may reduce a calf's chance of survival and mothers may be aggressive).
7. In all cases, do not change the normal behavior or movement of whales and always
avoid physical contact.
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Acknowledgments: Robert L. Norton (National Parks Trust), Bertrand Lettsome (Chief
Conservation & Fisheries Officer, BVIs), Overing 1992, Overing and Lettsome 1993, Paul
Knapp, Jr., David Mattila, CTO 1997.
11. Anguilla (UK)
Population: 10,900.
Land area: 91 sq km.
Tourist arrivals by air: 43,181 (+15.2% on prev. yr.)
Tourist arrivals by cruise ship: None.
Total Tourist Expenditures: $57.2 million USD.
Tourism Budget: $697,000 USD.
GDP at factor cost: $71.1 million USD.
1994 figures on whale watching: Nil.
1998 figures on whale watching: Nil.
Whale-watching ports (current or potential): Limited information.
Land-based viewing sites: Limited information.
Whale-watching potential: Minimal.
(Figures above are latest figures for 1997, except as noted.)
Anguilla is only 35 square miles (91 sq km) and is relatively flat and low-lying
(highest point, Crocus Hill, is only 213 feet high (65 m). A British dependent territory,
Anguilla is the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean. Although
located only 5 miles (8 kms) north of St.-Martin, Anguilla could not be much more
different from St.-Martin's bustling shopping centres. Anguilla's beautiful beaches and new
hotels are popular with the well-to-do travellers who like things quiet and more laid back.
In the early 1980s, Anguilla had almost no visitor facilities but a decision was
made to develop tourism especially luxury hotels and villas. There are also some small and
locally owned guest houses. Diving dates from the late 1980s and is oriented toward
diving on wrecks, seven of which have been sunk as artificial reefs in the past decade.
Recently, a marine parks system has been established in part to help manage the diving
tourism and keep the marine waters relatively pristine.
Between February and April, but especially in March, some humpback whales
navigate the narrow strait between Windward Point, just past the fishing village of Island
Harbour, and the uninhabited Scrub Island. Humpbacks are also reported off the northwest
coast on the other side of the reef beyond Sandy Island.
At present whale watching is not considered a potential industry due to the sporadic
nature of the sightings. No dolphin or other cetacean surveys have been done. In any case,
the tourism base exists to support whale watch tourism perhaps most sensibly to be
considered as part of marine nature tourism.
The coat of arms of Anguilla is worth noting as cetaceans feature prominently:
three orange dolphins on a white background arranged in a circular design with blue wavy
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