Whale Watching Worldwide

US Virgin Islands
Year Number of
whale
watchers
AAGR Number of
operators
Direct
expenditure
Indirect
expenditure
Total
expenditure
1991 Minimal N/A N/A Minimal Minimal Minimal
1994 500 N/A N/A $23,000 $57,000 $80,000
1998 75 ‐37.8% 2 $3,500 $4,500 $8,000
2008 100 2.9% 1 $6,500 $12,000 $18,500
Capital City: Charlotte Amalie
Whale Watch Locations:
01: St. Thomas
The US Virgin Islands, in much the same manner as the British Virgin
Islands, have regular visitation by humpback whales over a few
short months of the year, however no established whale watching
industry exists, despite the major tourism industry.
One non‐government organisation continues to take a few trips per
year to see the whales from St. Thomas, however in some years no
whales are seen on these trips. In recent years it appears to have
been more difficult to find whales. No further established whale
watching industry is active on the islands. There are occasional sightings of cetaceans on dive trips, from
both St. Thomas and St. Croix, and recreational boats also occasionally report sightings of whales. As well as
humpbacks, sightings have included sperm whales, orca and short‐finned pilot whales.
In earlier research on the US Virgin Islands (Hoyt, 1999), it was noted that another operator which had been
taking whale watch trips dropped out of the business due to the short season and the irregularity of
sightings.
Main species: Large cetaceans:
humpback whale, sperm whale
Small cetaceans:
bottlenose dolphin, spinner dolphin, short‐
finned pilot whale
Tourists:
International
Domestic
N/A
Types of tours: Boat‐based
Average adult ticket price: $65
Estimated employment
numbers:
1
Main whale watch season: January to March
Acknowledgements:
Dalma Simon from the Environment Association of St. Thomas and St. John (EAST) and Paul Jobsis, marine biologist at
the University of the Virgin Islands.
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