Whale Watching Worldwide

Estimated employment
62
numbers:
Main whale watch season: Many dolphin species can be seen on tours
year‐round, but July to November is best for
large whales..
References:
Hoyt, E & Iñíguez, M 2008, ‘The State of Whale Watching in Latin America’, WDCS, Chippenham, UK; IFAW, Yarmouth
Port, USA; and Global Ocean, London, 60 pp..
Chile
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 300+ N/A N/A $15,000 $38,000 $53,000
1998 3,300 82.1% N/A $194,000 $485,000 $679,000
2006 13,720 19.5% 59 $1,169,443 $1,284,383 $2,453,826
Capital City: Santiago
Whale Watch Locations:
01: Isla Choros‐Damas
02: Punta Arenas
Chile has diverse whale and dolphin watching opportunities: from
dolphin watching around rocky islands in the desert north to large
baleen whales leaping against the backdrop of the southern fjords.
However, the vast bulk of commercial and dedicated dolphin
watching occurs at Isla Choros‐Damas, in the north central part of
the country, 500 km (300 miles) north of Santiago. Local fishermen
offer tours using small fishing boats (capacity 12 passengers).
In the south of the country, many cruises to Antarctica encounter cetaceans in Chilean waters, particularly in
Punta Arenas, the Strait of Magellan and Patagonian Channels.
Earlier reports noted that despite the strong presence of many different cetacean species in Chilean waters,
the whale watching industry had been slow to take off. Species sighted off Chile include the three biggest
cetacean species: the sei whale, the fin whale and the largest of all, and most common in terms of sightings,
the blue whale. It appears now that the opportunities are being seized and the industry is in a strong growth
phase.
Main species: Large cetaceans:
blue whale, humpback whale,
southern right whale
Small cetaceans:
bottlenose dolphin, Commerson’s dolphin,
Chilean dolphin, orca, Peale’s dolphin,
long‐finned pilot whale, Risso’s dolphin
Tourists:
International Mainly international
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