Whale Watching Worldwide

organise dedicated land‐based activities in Abaco, but as yet this has not led to any commercial trips. The
three locations with the best potential for land‐based watching are Hole‐in‐the‐Wall Lighthouse, Great
Abaco; Elbow Cay lighthouse, Great Abaco; and North Bimini. It is estimated that potentially hundreds of
people spot dolphins from land thereby adding to the enjoyment of their visit to The Bahamas and some
hotels use this possibility in their advertising.
There are three captive dolphin facilities on the islands which have thousands of visitors each year – these
are not included in this study. These trips are commonly promoted to cruise ship passengers rather than
short trips to see and swim with wild dolphins.
The islands make up one of the wealthiest Caribbean countries with an economy heavily dependent on
tourism and offshore banking. Tourism accounts for approximately 60% of GDP and half the labour force
when tourism‐driven construction and manufacturing is included.
Tourism to The Bahamas has fluctuated over the last decade, especially air arrivals, with some very low years
and an overall decline. Most people now visit as part of a cruise, although there are still some 1.5 million
non‐cruise arrivals. Numbers on cruises stopping at the islands grew strongly until 2004, declined slightly,
and remain 65% higher than in 1998. The whale watching sector of the tourism industry seems to be
performing reasonably given the overall pattern. The US is the source of more than 80% of visitors.
Main species: Large cetaceans:
sperm whale, humpback whale, beaked
whales (especially Blainville’s).
Small cetaceans:
bottlenose dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin,
Risso’s dolphin, short‐finned pilot whale, false
killer whale, orca, dwarf or pygmy sperm
whale
Tourists:
International 100%
Domestic 0%
Types of tours: Boat‐based, mostly live‐aboard, also day trip.
Strong emphasis on education, photography
and research
Average ticket price: $130 for day trips
$250 per day for multi‐day live‐aboard
Estimated employment
11
numbers
Main whale watch season: April to October
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to the Dolphin Communication Project, the Bahamas Marine Mammal Survey and eight operators.
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