Whale Watching Worldwide

Midway
Year Number of
whale
watchers
AAGR Number of
operators
Direct
expenditure
Indirect
expenditure
Total
expenditure
1991 None None N/A None None None
1994 None None N/A None None None
1998 289 N/A 1 $500,000 $43,000 $543,000
2008 Minimal N/A Minimal Minimal Minimal Minimal
Whale Watch Locations:
01: Midway Atoll
In 1998, Midway was reported to have a small whale watching
industry totaling nearly 300 tourists undertaking trips with a single
operator. This developed after the atoll was opened to the public
as the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (under strict permit
conditions) following the closure of the Naval Air Facility Midway
Island in 1993. Since then, small educational nature and historical
trips have been undertaken to the atoll.
The atoll is situated within the recently declared (2006)
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the largest
conservation area in the US, and the second largest highly protected
MPA (marine protected area) in the world. Midway is the only part of this conservation area open to limited
public access.
In 2008, research indicates around seven small trips were planned to the atoll through the NGO Oceanic
Society Expeditions. These trips include dolphin watching, but are also dedicated towards the other natural
elements of the atoll, particularly the bird colonies.
References:
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, http://hawaiireef.noaa.gov/about/welcome.html
Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, http://www.fws.gov/midway/
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