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oost the whale watching industry in this country. These are San Blas, Ria Gallegos and Cabo
Virgenes.
Although the biggest control measures on whale watching at Peninsula Valdés are the difficult
logistics in reaching the location, provincial law of Peninsula Valdés, Province of Chabut (No 2381/84
modified by No 2618/85) regulates the whale watching industry in this province. Operators require a
permit to conduct tours in this region and are not allowed closer than 50 m to a whale, along with
several other specifications similar to those of other such regulations. Operators are allowed a
maximum of two boats for use of whale watching tours.
Argentina is considered to have good potential for growth in the whale watching industry, especially
with the international attraction of Patagonian right whales, however, whale watching might have
reached its carrying capacity in the region of Peninsula Valdés as whale watcher numbers have
remained constant in recent years, while overall tourist numbers to the area continue to climb.
Improved educational and scientific aspects to the tours, as well as a high quality training program for
the guides and operators, might serve to boost the industry. There is excellent potential for the three
new whale watching areas, although legislation to manage the whale watching industry in these
regions would be required for sustainable growth in the industry.
11.6 Central America and West Indies
11.6.1 Bahamas
Historically the Bahamas have been a popular location for swimming with dolphins, which initially
provided the main attraction for marine tours. In more recent years (1996) however, Abacos has
developed a tourist market for whale watching. Two educational and scientific whale watch projects,
namely the Bahamas Marine Mammal Survey and the Bahama Naturalist Expeditions, have helped
promote this area as an attractive whale watching location. There is considered to be outstanding
untapped potential to develop the whale watch opportunities here, although infrastructure might be
considered limiting. An additional problem in the Bahamas is their proximity to the USA, which results
in a great number of “self contained” trips generating very little economic gain for the Bahamas
themselves, but makes use of their resources. Education and scientific input and land-based
experiences might assist in the growth of whale watching in this area.
11.6.2 Turks & Caicos Islands
The location of the Turks and Caicos Islands (proximate to the Bahamas and also to North America)
implies a level of whale watching similar to that in the Bahamas. The Turks and Caicos Islands
however, have an even less developed whale watching industry than the Bahamas, with 1500 whale
watchers visiting in 1998. Two legal operators offer day trips from Grand Turk island. The Turks and
Caicos Islands have three marine parks and consideration is being made to set aside an area therein
for a humpback whale refuge. This has the potential to attract international tourism (currently limiting
the growth of the industry) and will provide essential management components. New guidelines for
whale watching are being drafted for the Turks and Caicos Islands, although the old regulations
provide a good guideline on how to prevent disturbance of whales.
11.6.3 Dominican Republic
Whale watching activities began in the Dominican Republic in 1986 and have continued to grow with
32 000 whale watchers recorded in 2000. Two types of whale watching tours are offered, day trips
from Samaná Bay aboard small fishing boats or larger sailboats carrying anything between 7 to 125
passengers or the seven to ten day trips from Silver Bank aboard larger self-contained vessels.
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