The Potential of Whale Watching in the Caribbean: 1999+

necessary to ensure that critical activities such as breeding and social organisation, are not
disrupted.
From these and other data, the sperm whales appear to be most accessible during
the prime whale watching season of November to April. Due to poor weather (hurricane
season) and lack of effort, there is not much information on the distribution and abundance
of sperm whales and dolphins outside these months. However, it may well be possible to
expand the whale watch business in the 'shoulder' seasons. Another expansion could be to
the northwestern part of the island. Although more remote from the main port of Roseau,
there appear to be just as many whales and dolphins. There is also ample room for
expanding whale watching through land-based visitor centres which could charge
admission. Québec, South Africa and South Australia provide some examples of the
possibilities. These land-based centres can serve as 'advertising' for the boat tours, as well
as help educate and entertain visitors regarding the amazing diversity of cetaceans found in
Dominican waters. It is possible for such centres to be developed into mini-museums and
gift shops which can provide more employment as well as encourage local interest in the
cetacean behavior happening all the time just offshore.
The emphasis in Dominica on studying and getting to know 'the resource' is itself a
valuable model to copy in other Caribbean islands. The impetus in Dominica was provided
largely by scientists and NGOs, but it could equally be provided by government, as it is in
New Zealand, or by the whale watch operators themselves, as it has been in parts of the
US and Canada.
The regulations for whale watching in Dominica are some of the most carefully
considered and scientifically supported, since they grew out of workshops in Dominica in
the mid 1990s. To date they are not incorporated into law. However, the two main
operators are very familiar with them and have attempted to be self-regulating. With two
additional operators now working, it may become necessary for more formal adoption of
the regulations and monitoring and enforcement.
In 1997, Prime Minister Edison James declared Dominica's support for Japan's prowhaling
position, surprising many who had followed the country's successful development
as a prime ecotourism destination, with high quality whale watching. Only time will tell if
this affects the willingness of visitors to come and spend money in Dominica. It may
depend on how widely this information is known, how much Dominica's visitors value
whales and dolphins in general, and many other factors.
For now, whale watching has arrived in Dominica as a key visitor attraction, as
well as a powerful image-maker, and Dominican operators and hotels are reaping the
benefits of almost ten years of steady learning curve. Best of all, in Dominica, whale
watching has been put on a positive footing in terms of education and science, partly due
to the international workshops. The challenge now will be to grow sensibly, to manage any
boat traffic problems that develop, and to continue to invest more and more in education
which will entertain the visitor and improve the business while benefiting the whales.
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Dominica: Draft Codes of Conduct for Whale Watching in Dominica
The following codes of conduct are under review; though some points are already
partly adhered to at present as guidelines (Carlson 1998).
The Marine Mammal Codes of Conduct are a compilation of existing international
guidelines and regulations for watching whales that may be applicable to commercial
operations in Dominica. These codes of conduct suggest permits for commercial
operations and define the criteria for issuing permits, requirments to be satisfied before
issuing permits for commercial vessels, land-based operations, commercial aircraft
operations and behaviour around marine mammals. These include:
CRITERIA
Before issuing a permit, the governing authorities shall be satisfied that there is
substantial compliance with the following criteria:
1. That the commercial operation should not have any significant adverse effect on the
behavioural patterns of the marine mammals to which the application refers.
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