Whale watching in the Arctic

Why go whale watching?

There's something mysterious, elemental and deeply moving about seeing a whale at sea for the first time.

The boat trip, the anticipation, the first glimpse, the sudden realisation that you are seeing one of the world's most extraordinary animals in an alien environment. It all adds up to one of those never-to-be-forgotten moments in life. And there's now more reason than ever to go. It's not just good fun; whale watching is good for conservation too.

Whale watching and conservation

WWF encourages carefully controlled whale watching because we believe it can promote whale, dolphin and porpoise conservation. For example, in the Andenes and Tysfjord areas of northern Norway, where sperm whales and orcas are commonly seen, WWF has helped develop whale watching. And in Iceland, WWF provides funding for The Whale Centre, an interactive museum devoted to whales and the history of whaling in Husavik.

In Iceland, whale watching passenger numbers have grown from 100 in 1991 to 45,400 in 2000.

Whale watching - a booming industry

Around 10 million people a year go whale watching, spending more than $1.25 billion. The number of whale watchers is increasing at 12 percent a year, three times faster than overall tourism numbers. Four hundred and ninety-five communities in 87 countries and overseas territories now have whale watching tours.

The number of whale watchers in the Arctic areas of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Russia is about 140,000 a year. Tourists to the area are estimated to spend $147 million.

Whale watching in the Arctic has grown steadily since the first trips began in 1988. It gives tourists the chance to see whales, dolphins and porpoises in their natural environment. And it's a great way for people to learn about the natural and cultural history of the Arctic, and ensure that they are better aware of conservation issues unique to this environment.

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Source: Whale Watching 2001 by Erich Hoyt, published by the International Fund for Animal Welfare