Whale Watching Worldwide

formal cetacean watching industry 48 . Feedback from an operator in early 2009 indicates that there is one
small locally owned resort that takes guests to see and swim with spinner dolphins on Moon Reef, although
this remains on a small scale.
Large cetaceans are seen only infrequently in waters around Fiji, with reports indicating that humpbacks
were previously prevalent in local waters. Anecdotally, operators have suggested cetacean numbers have
been low since the introduction of long line fishing in Fijian waters around a decade ago. This correlates
with SPREP’s Whale and Dolphin Action Plan that identifies dolphins taking bait from long line hooks as a
serious threat to cetaceans in the region 49 .
Acknowledgements:
Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau, Rob Barrel (Nai’a)
Main species: Small cetaceans:
bottlenose dolphin, spinner dolphin
Tourists:
International 100%
Domestic
Types of tours: Boat‐based, opportunistic tours, and one
dedicated tour that includes swimming with
dolphins
Average adult ticket price: N/A
Estimated employment
1
numbers:
Main whale watch season: N/A
References:
Research for this country was taken from the Pacific Islands Whale Watch Tourism report undertaken by Economists at
Large for IFAW. 2005 data from that report have been projected forward to 2008 with an assumed continued low rate
of whale watching.
48 University of the South Pacific, pers.comm. (April 2006) & operator feedback.
49 SPREP, Whale and Dolphin Action Plan 2003‐2007, accessed via SPREP May 2006.
180