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Whale watching off the coast of Bar Harbor, Maine.
Whale watching off the coast of Bar Harbor, Maine.

Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and other cetaceans in their natural habitat. Whales are marine mammals which are neither Dolphins (ie members of the families Delphinidae or Platanistoidae) nor Porpoises Orcas The Order Cetacea (sɪˈteɪʃiə L cetus, whale includes Whales Dolphins and Porpoises Cetus is Whales are watched most commonly for recreation (cf. bird watching) but the activity can also be for scientific or educational reasons. Birdwatching or birding is the observation and study of Birds with the naked eye or through a visual enhancement device like Binoculars. While individuals do organize private trips, whale watching is primarily a commercial activity, estimated to be worth up to $1 billion per annum worldwide to whale watching operations and their local communities. The size and rapid growth of the whale watching industry has led to complex and unconcluded debates with the whaling industry about the best use of whales as a natural resource. Whaling is the hunting of Whales and dates back to at least 6000 BC Natural resources are naturally occurring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified ( natural) form

Contents

History

Whale watching as an organized activity dates back to 1950 when the Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego was declared a public spot for the observation of Gray Whales. For the lighthouse in Mendocino County California see Point Cabrillo Light. The Gray Whale or Grey Whale ( Eschrichtius robustus) is a Whale that travels between feeding and breeding grounds yearly In 1955 the first water-based whale watching commenced in the same area, charging customers $1 per trip to view the whales at closer quarters. The spectacle proved popular, attracting 10,000 visitors in its first year and many more in subsequent years. The industry spread throughout the western coast of the United States over the following decade. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

In 1971 the Montreal Zoological Society commenced the first commercial whale watching activity on the eastern side of North America, offering trips in the St. Lawrence River to view Fin and Beluga Whales. Saint Lawrence River (in French: fleuve Saint-Laurent; Kahnawáˀkye in Tuscarora, Kaniatarowanenneh meaning big waterway

In the late 1970s the industry mushroomed in size thanks to operations in New England. History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the By 1985 more visitors watched whales from New England than California. The rapid growth in this area has been attributed to the relatively dense population of Humpback Whales, whose acrobatic behaviour such as breaching (jumping out of the water) and tail-slapping was an obvious crowd-pleaser, and the close proximity of whale populations to the large cities on the east coast of the US. The humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae) is a Baleen Whale.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s whale watching spread throughout the world. In 1998 Erich Hoyt carried out the largest systematic study of whale watching yet undertaken and concluded that whale watching trips were now available in 87 countries around the world, with over 9 million participants generating an income to whale watcher operators and supporting infrastructure (such as accommodation, restaurants and souvenirs) of over one billion dollars. His estimate for 2000 was for 11. 3 million participants spending $1. 475 billion, representing a five-fold increase over the decade.

Whale watching is of particular importance to developing countries as coastal communities start to profit directly from the whales' presence, significantly adding to popular support for the full protection of these animals from any resumption of commercial whaling.

Regulation

Environmental campaigners, concerned by what they consider the "quick-buck" mentality of some boat owners, continue to strongly urge all whale watcher operators to contribute to local regulations governing whale watching (no international standard set of regulations exist because of the huge variety of species and populations). Common rules include:

(Source: WDCS)

Almost all popular whale watching regions now have such regulations. ( WDCS) the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society is a wildlife Charity that is dedicated solely to the worldwide conservation and welfare of all whales dolphins Campaigners hope that a combination of peer pressure, the economic benefit of being advertised and promoted by ethical tourism operators and operators' own passion for marine wildlife forces them to adhere to such regulations. Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, is a form of Tourism that appeals to ecologically and socially conscious individuals

One example of such regulations is the Be Whale Wise campaign of the Northeast Pacific. [1]

Locations

Around the world, whale watching can be had in various locations and climates. By area, they are:

Northeast Atlantic

Much of Europe is surrounded by water. Tidal straits, inlets, lagoons, and varying water temperatures, make it ideal for various species to live here from the Arctic Circle to the warm waters off of Greece. Whales are seen in good numbers off the coast of Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Scandinavia, Spain, and France. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Commercial car ferries crossing the Bay of Biscay from Britain and Ireland to Spain and France often pass by animals as large as blue whales and as small as pods of harbor porpoise and land based tours of these waters are not unheard of. Cantabrian Sea redirects here Not to be confused with Biscay Bay Newfoundland and Labrador or Biscayne Bay. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Blue Whale ( Balaenoptera musculus) is a Marine mammal belonging to the suborder of Baleen whales (called Mysticeti The Harbor Porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena) is one of six Species of Porpoise. In Northern Norway, Orcas are observed in Vestfjord, Tysfjord and Ofotfjord in Nordland as the herring gathers in the fjords to stay over the winter as well as being observed off the Lofoten islands during the summer. North Norway ( Norwegian: Nord-Norge ( Bokmål) or Nord-Noreg ( Nynorsk) is the geographical region of northern The Orca or Killer Whale ( Orcinus orca) less commonly Blackfish or Seawolf, is the largest species of the Oceanic dolphin family Vestfjord is a Norwegian Fjord, which would be described as a Firth or an open bight of sea between the Lofoten Archipelago Tysfjord ( Norwegian) or Divtasvuodna ( Lule Sami) is a municipality in the county of Nordland, Norway Ofotfjord ( Norwegian: Ofotfjorden, the suffix -en means " the " an inlet of the Norwegian sea, is Norway's 12th is a county in Norway, bordering Troms in the north Nord-Trøndelag in the south Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east Västerbottens Herring are small Oily fish of the genus Clupea found in the shallow temperate waters of the North Atlantic, the Baltic Sea, the North A fjord or fiord (fjɔːd|fiːɔːd or fiːɔːd is a long narrow Inlet with steep sides created in a valley carved by glacial activity. At Andenes on Andøya in Vesterålen, sperm whales can be observed all year round, although whale watching trips are only offered from May till September. For andenes the cultivation terraces of the Incas see Anden is a town and former municipality in Vesterålen district in Nordland county Norway Andøya is the northernmost island in the Archipelago of Vesterålen in Nordland county Norway. Vesterålen is a district in the county Nordland in Norway, just north of Lofoten. The Sperm Whale ( Physeter macrocephalus or Physeter catodon) is the largest of all Toothed whales and largest living toothed animal The continental shelf [Eggakanten] and deep water where the sperm whales congregate, is very close to shore, beginning only 7000m from the Andenes harbour. The Sperm Whale ( Physeter macrocephalus or Physeter catodon) is the largest of all Toothed whales and largest living toothed animal For andenes the cultivation terraces of the Incas see Anden is a town and former municipality in Vesterålen district in Nordland county Norway Also, in the middle of the Northeast Atlantic , in the Azores Arquipelago whale watching can be easily done. The Azores ( Açores ɐˈsoɾɨʃ or) is a Portuguese Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1500 km (950  mi) from The most common whale in the region is the sperm whale, especially groups of females with calves.

Northeast Pacific

On the West Coast of the United States and Canada, excellent whale watching can be found in Alaska (summer), British Columbia, and the San Juan Islands/Puget Sound in Washington, where pods of orca are sometimes visible from shore. In California good whalewatching can be found in spring, summer, and fall at the Farallon Islands off San Francisco, Monterey Bay, the usual suspects including humpbacks, greys, and blue whales. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae) is a Baleen Whale. The Gray Whale or Grey Whale ( Eschrichtius robustus) is a Whale that travels between feeding and breeding grounds yearly The Blue Whale ( Balaenoptera musculus) is a Marine mammal belonging to the suborder of Baleen whales (called Mysticeti In Mexico, the various lagoons of Baja California Sur become whale breeding habitat in February and March. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. A lagoon is a body of comparatively shallow salt or Brackish water separated from the deeper Sea by a shallow or exposed sandbank, coral Baja California Sur (pron BAH-hah kahl'-ee-FORE-nyah SOOR is one of the 31 States of Mexico. Tourists come here during this time to see the whales. A number of towns in the Mexican state have festivals celebrating the whale's arrival such as Guerrero Negro, in the first half of February and the port of San Blas on the 24 and 25 of February. Guerrero Negro is the largest town located in the municipality of Mulegé in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur (BCS San Blas is a small rural community located in the municipality of La Paz in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur (BCS [1]

Northwest Pacific

In the Philippines, over thirty species of whales and dolphins can be observed around Central Visayas, Davao Gulf, the northern coast of the province-island Palawan, and in Batanes. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Visayas ( Visayan: Kabisay-an) is one of the three island groups in the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao. Davao Gulf is a gulf found in Mindanao in the Philippines. Davao Gulf cuts into the island of Mindanao from Celebes Sea. Palawan is an Island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. The Province of Batanes is the northernmost and the smallest province of the Philippine Republic, both in terms of population and land area The Visayas is particularly known area for dolphin sightings, and is home to one of the larger populations of the Fraser's Dolphin in the world. Fraser's Dolphin ( Lagenodelphis hosei) or Sarawak Dolphin is a Cetacean in the family Delphinidae found in deep waters in the Pacific Ocean Dolphin species in the Visayas are known to be attracted to fish lures and to commercial fishing operations. In the northermost province of Batanes, at least 12 species of whales and dolphins has been sighted, making it the single location in the country with the highest cetacean diversity. There seems to be no definitive whale watching season in the Philippines, although the calmer waters of the summer season typically provides the best conditions. Some populations, like those of the Humpback Whales in Batanes, appear migratory, but other populations have yet to be studied. The humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae) is a Baleen Whale. [2] Some former coastal whaling communities in the Philippines have also started to generate income through whale watching tours. [3]

Southwest Pacific

Kaikoura in New Zealand is a world-famous site for whales (in particular Sperm Whales) and Albatrosses. Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Sperm Whale ( Physeter macrocephalus or Physeter catodon) is the largest of all Toothed whales and largest living toothed animal Albatrosses, of the biological family Diomedeidae, are large Seabirds allied to the procellariids, Storm-petrels and Diving-petrels

Hervey Bay in Queensland, Australia offers reliable whale watching conditions for Southern Humpback Whales from the beginning of August through to the end of November each year. Hervey Bay is a rapidly-growing city in south eastern Queensland, Australia. Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae) is a Baleen Whale. Whale numbers and activity have increased markedly in recent years. Sydney, Eden, Port Stephens and Byron Bay in New South Wales are other popular hot spots for tours from May to November. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 Eden is a town in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. Port Stephens is a large natural harbour located about north-east of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. Byron Bay is a town in the state of New South Wales on the easternmost point of mainland Australia.

Southern Right Whales are seen in winter (June-August) along the south coast of Australia. The Southern Right Whale ( Eubalaena australis) is a Baleen whale, one of three species classified as Right whales belonging to the genus Eubalaena For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. They are often readily viewed from the coast around Encounter Bay near Victor Harbor and up to a hundred at a time may be seen from the cliff tops at the head of the Great Australian Bight near Yalata. Encounter Bay is located on the south central coast of South Australia, some 100km south of Adelaide, South Australia Victor Harbor is a city located on the coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, located 80km south of Adelaide, South Australia. The Great Australian Bight is a large bight, or open bay located off the central and western portions of the southern coastline of mainland Australia. Yalata ( is an Aboriginal community located 200 kilometres west of Ceduna on the Great Australian Bight in South Australia

Northwest Atlantic

A Humpback breaching in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
A Humpback breaching in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

In New England and off the east coast of Long Island, the whale watching season typically takes place from about mid-spring through October, depending both on weather and precise location. Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is an 842-square-mile (638-square- nautical-mile) federally protected Marine sanctuary located at the mouth of Massachusetts History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the Long Island is an island located in southeastern New York, USA, its western shores directly across from Manhattan, from which the island stretches It is here that the Northern Humpback Whale, Fin Whale, Minke Whale, and the very endangered/heavily protected North Atlantic Right Whale are often observed. The humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae) is a Baleen Whale. Minke Whale ( or Lesser Rorqual is a name given to two species of Marine mammal belonging to a Clade within the suborder of Baleen whales The Right whales are the species of large Baleen whales belonging to the Genus Eubalaena. For generations, areas like the Gulf of Maine and Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary ( part of the inner waters formed by Cape Cod's hooked shape) have been important feeding grounds for these species and in the past this area was a whaling capital for the U. The Gulf of Maine is a large gulf of the Atlantic Ocean on the northeastern coast of North America. Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is an 842-square-mile (638-square- nautical-mile) federally protected Marine sanctuary located at the mouth of Massachusetts Cape Cod (or simply the Cape to most New Englanders is a Peninsula nearly coextensive with Barnstable County Massachusetts and forming the easternmost S. whaling industry, particularly the island of Nantucket just off the coast of Massachusetts. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Though strict laws prohibit the molestation of these large wild mammals, it is not unknown for the whales to approach the boats entirely on their own, particularly calves and juveniles. In recent years it is also not uncommon from time to time to see these huge animals playing and feeding in harbors of large cities, including New York. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous It is also here that a very large amount of research on large cetaceans takes place.

In Canada, a popular whale-watching area is at Tadoussac, Quebec, where Beluga Whales favour the extreme depth and admixture of cold fresh water from the Saguenay River into the inland end of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Tadoussac is a village of 857 inhabitants (2005 in Quebec, Canada. The Saguenay River (French rivière Saguenay) is a major River of Quebec, Canada. Gulf of Saint Lawrence (French golfe du Saint-Laurent) the world's largest Estuary, is the outlet of North America's Great Lakes via the Saint In addition, the Maritimes shares a population of humpbacks Living in the bay of Fundy, during the summer and moving South and out in to the Ocean during the winter.

Southwest Atlantic

In Brazil, humpback whales are observed off Salvador in Bahia State and at the National Marine Park of Abrolhos during their breeding season in austral winter and spring. Likewise, Southern Right Whales are observed from shore in Santa Catarina State during the same season, as mother/calf pairs can come as close to shore as 30 meters (about 100 feet). Income from whale watching has bolstered many a coastal community in Brazil and has made the township if Imbituba, Santa Catarina, recognized as a Brazilian "whale capital".

Africa

In South Africa, the town of Hermanus is one of the world centers for whale watching. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Hermanus (originally called Hermanuspietersfontein is a town (population 48346 on the southern coast of South Africa and is famous as a place from which to watch During the winter months (July-October) Southern Right Whales come so close to the Cape shoreline that visitors can watch whales from their hotels. The Southern Right Whale ( Eubalaena australis) is a Baleen whale, one of three species classified as Right whales belonging to the genus Eubalaena The town employs a "whale crier" (cf town crier) to walk through the town announcing where whales have been seen. A town crier is a person who is employed by a Town council to make public announcements in the streets

Southeast Indian

In Western Australia, whales are watched not far from Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste. Western Australia is a state occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. Cape Leeuwin (ˈluːwɪn —) is the most south-westerly mainland point of the Australian Continent, in the state of Western Australia. Cape Naturaliste is a headland in the south western region of Western Australia at the western edge of the Geographe Bay.

In Australia, whale watching occurs in many spots up and down the East Coast. From headlands you will often seen them making their migration south. At times, whales even make it into Sydney Harbour.

Whaling and whale watching

All three of the current major whaling nations (Norway, Japan and Iceland) have large and growing whale watching industries. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Indeed Iceland had the fastest-growing whale watching industry in the world between 1994 and 1998.

Many conservationists now espouse the economic argument that a whale is worth more alive and watched than dead in order to try to persuade the governments of whaling nations to curtail whaling activities. The correctness of this argument is the subject of much debate at the International Whaling Commission, particularly since argue about the whaling countries the 'scarcity' of whale meat which supposedly has caused it to become a luxury item, increasing its value. The International Whaling Commission ( IWC) is an international body set up by the terms of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW, which However, whale meat markets have collapsed and in Japan the government keeps its flow artificially through subsidies and whale meat distribution in schools and other forms of whale meat promotion. In 1997 2,000 tonnes of whale meat were sold for $30m - a single 10 tonne Minke Whale would thus have been worth $150,000. Minke Whale ( or Lesser Rorqual is a name given to two species of Marine mammal belonging to a Clade within the suborder of Baleen whales The There is no agreement as to how to value a single animal to the whale watching industry, though it is probably much higher. It is possible to construct arguments that 'prove' a single whale is worth either much more or much less than this figure. However, it is clear from most coastal communities that are involved in whale watching that profits can be made and are more horizontally distributed throughout the community than if the animals were killed by a whaling industry.

Upon the resumption of whaling in Iceland in August 2003, pro-whaling groups, such as fishermen who argue that increased stocks of whales are depleting fish populations, suggested that sustainable whaling and whale watching could live side-by-side. Whale watching lobbyists, such as Húsavík Whale Museum curator Asbjorn Bjorgvinsson, counter that the most inquistive whales, which approach boats very closely and provide much of the entertainment on whale-watching trips, will be the first to be killed by whalers. Húsavík Iceland Pro-whaling organisations such as the High North Alliance on the other hand, have said that whale watching is not profitable and that some whale-watching companies in Iceland are surviving only because they receive funding from anti-whaling organizations(statement from the HNA on the issue). The High North Alliance (Norwegian Høge Nord Alliansen is an umbrella organisation of several Fishing, Whaling and Nordic Municipal

Conservation aspects

The rapid growth of the number of whale watching trips and the size of vessel used to watch whales has led to concerns that whale behaviour, migatory patterns and breeding cycles may be affected. There is now strong evidence that whalewatching can significantly affect the biology and ecology of whales and dolphins. Unfortunately management responses are lagging far behind the rapid growth of the sector and much is needed to improve the sustainability of whalewatching in most locations in the world.

Orca calls off Washington

Writing in Nature in April 2004, scientists from the University of Durham working off the coast of Washington in the northwest United States discovered that Orca are increasing the length of their calls to make themselves heard to each other above the din of boat engine noise. Nature is a prominent Scientific journal, first published on 4 November 1869 Durham University is a University in Durham, England. It was founded as the University of Durham (which remains its official and legal name Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Orca or Killer Whale ( Orcinus orca) less commonly Blackfish or Seawolf, is the largest species of the Oceanic dolphin family The research examined the length of the whales' calls between 1977 and 1981, 1989 and 1992 and 2001 and 2003. They found that while the call length had not changed much between the first two surveys, the third survey saw, at times of day when environmental noise exceeded a certain threshold, the Orca increasing the length of their calls by about 15% in an apparent effort to make themselves heard.

The researchers commented that this was in one sense a positive sign - Orca able to adapt to their environment rapidly. However, populations of Orca in the area have fallen since a survey in 1996 and concern remains that the whale watching boats, and private boats that follow them that are less likely to follow local conservation guidelines, are causing intolerable environment stress to the creatures.

References

  1. ^ Quintanar Hinojosa, Beatriz (August 2007). "[www. mexicodesconocido. com. mx Oaxaca: jubilo de los sentidos]". Guía México Desconocido: Oaxaca 137: 8.  

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