Whale Watching Worldwide

Faroe Islands
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 Minimal Minimal Minimal Minimal Minimal Minimal
2008 Minimal Minimal Minimal Minimal Minimal Minimal
Capital City: Tórshavn
According to the local tourism board, no dedicated whale watching
activities are offered in the Faroe Islands.
Occasional sightings are possible when boat cruises stop in the
Faroe Islands during their journey from Denmark to Iceland as well
as occasional sightings as part of other nature cruises. The main
species that those on the cruises may see are long‐finned pilot
whales, Atlantic white‐sided dolphins and orcas.
Although whale watching could have potential as an industry in the
Faroes due to the presence of cetaceans in local waters, the local cetacean hunt, the Grind, contradicts the
conservation motivations of many nature tourists and therefore the Faroes is not a destination of choice for
those wishing to see whales in their natural environment.
Main species: Small cetaceans:
Atlantic white‐sided dolphin, long‐finned pilot
whale, orca
Tourists:
International
N/A
Domestic
Types of tours: opportunistic/incidental
Average adult ticket price: N/A
Estimated employment
None
numbers:
Main whale watch season: N/A
87