Whale Watching Worldwide

Regardless of its pace, the industry has long since passed the ‘one million served’ mark and continues to
make a significant contribution to the local economy. Like popular whale watching locations the world over,
concerns are often raised about the effects of whale watching vessels on whales. Parks Canada shares these
concerns and works to enforce regulations and ensure the sustainability of the industry in the Saguenay‐St.
Lawrence Marine Park. Since 1994, Parks Canada is involved in monitoring of the whale watching activity in
the Marine Park along with operators and a local non‐profit organisation.
Whale watching can be found in several other locations around the Gulf of St. Lawrence, particularly on the
North Shore. Around 25,000 whale watchers per year visit the Mingan region. Many of these are on trips
run by a local research group to help fund their research activities. Visitors can even play a more active part
in these research activities with opportunities to participate over full‐day, week or two‐week periods.
On the South Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, around 15,000 people go boat‐based whale watching off
Gaspé with three operators, targeting blue and humpback whales.
Main species:
Large ceteaceans:
blue whale, fin whale, humpback whale,
minke whale
Small cetaceans:
Atlantic white‐sided dolphin, beluga whale,
harbour porpoise, white‐beaked dolphin
Tourists:
International 20%
Domestic 80%
Types of tours: 3‐hour, half‐day and full‐day boat‐based trips.
Significant land‐based opportunities, with
telescopes, naturalists and lookouts with
cover
Average adult ticket price: $50
Estimated employment
2,000
numbers:
Main whale watch season: May to October
Acknowledgements:
Thank you to Nadia Ménard and Valérie Busque at Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park (Parks Canada), Robert
Michaud and Véronik de la Chenelière at GREMM, Richard Sears at Mingan Island Cetacean Study and 7 operators.
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