The Potential of Whale Watching in the Caribbean: 1999+

February to April when the waters tend to be calmer. As well, the same species are seen on
diving trips which include cetaceans and were offered in the past by the Carib Scuba Club
out of Carbet, south of St.-Pierre. However, recent enquiries to this diving company and
others along the west coast of Martinique in April 1999 indicate that little whale or dolphin
watching is currently taking place. One operator even said that the whales 'had left the
area', and some residents insisted that there were no whales around.
Researcher Michael Dougherty, working from a sailboat in the lee of Martinique
for part of the winter of 1998-99 was similarly told that there were no whales to be found.
Yet the sperm whales were there every day in relatively calm water about 4 miles off Fortde-France
and easily accessible. Of course the trade winds do blow from time to time, but
with a hydrophone to help find and listen to the whales and a reasonable-size whale watch
boat, it would be easy to set up a good whale-watch business. Besides off Fort-de-France,
Dougherty also found the whales in some concentration off St.-Pierre, though the trade
winds tended to be stronger there.
To be sure, whale watching has not developed into an industry as it has on
Dominica. But from consistent reports from scientists, yachters and offshore fishermen,
there is no doubt that the whales and dolphins are there. The same or similar opportunities
for whale watch tourism exist on Martinique as on Dominica, particularly in the north of
the country. Several other researchers including Watkins et al. (1982, 1985) and
Notarbartolo di Sciara have turned up essentially the same diverse group of cetacean
species as for Dominica. And Jefferson and Lynn's 1991 cetacean survey mentioned
Martinique as one of three sites of cetacean concentration in the Caribbean and Gulf of
Mexico. It may be that because some of the best diving areas are close to shore, the diving
companies encounter whales and dolphins less often. In any case, a scientific survey is
planned for summer 1999 which will examine and report on the lee shore abundance and
presence of cetaceans.
There are certainly other ports that could be developed for whale or dolphin
watching tours. The 100 fathom (200 meter) contour is within 2 miles (3 km) of the coast
from Cap St.-Martin in the north almost to Fort-de-France, the capital, and the 900-fathom
(1800 meter) line is as close as 6 miles (10 kms). In addition, in the southwest, Cap
Salomon, and, in the far south, Pointe d'Enfer, offer the possibility of good lookouts, with
departure ports nearby. The infrastructure for tourists is more than substantial, and could
easily accommodate quite high numbers of whale watchers. A certain amount of whale and
dolphin watching through the existing diving clubs would help spread the focus on marine
resources. All that is required is the entrepreneur who has the will and the understanding of
how to set up whale watching with a good international standard. A quick visit to
Dominica would cut the learning curve considerably.
Acknowledgments: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara (Tethys), Michael Dougherty, Lesley
Sutty (AADN), Huges Hayot (Botanical Gardens, Anse Latouche), Michael Meteret
(UCPA, St.-Pierre), Watkins and Moore 1982, Watkins et al 1985, Cathy Williamson
(WDCS), Jefferson and Lynn 1994, CTO 1997.
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