Whale Watching Worldwide

Jamaica
Year Number of
whale
watchers
AAGR Number of
operators
Direct
expenditure
Indirect
expenditure
Total
expenditure
1991 None N/A None None None None
1994 None N/A None None None None
1998 None N/A None None None None
2008 10 N/A 1 $1,000 $1,500 $2,500
Capital City: Kingston
Whale Watch Locations:
01: Negril
An operator in Jamaica, based in Negril, has recently begun taking
dedicated whale watching trips to see sperm whales around 12
miles off shore. In 2008 the company experimented with the tours,
using a fishing charter vessel, after the owner had experienced close
up interaction with sperm whales on his own fishing trips. The
same operator reports regular opportunistic sightings of dolphins
around dive sites, with dolphins encountered on average twice per
week.
Jamaica has not previously been identified as a whale watching location, but with some further marketing of
the opportunity here, there is certainly room for growth in line with some of the other Caribbean islands’
significant industries, particularly in light of the large existing tourism industry.
Acknowledgements:
David Wallace at Negril Scuba.
Main species: Large cetaceans:
sperm whale
Small cetaceans:
dolphins ‐ various species
Tourists:
International N/A
Domestic
Types of tours: Boat‐based
Average adult ticket price: $100
Estimated employment
1
numbers:
Main whale watch season: year round
256