During a press conference today we heard that 88 whale watching operators in Latin America have signed a joint statement calling for the IWC to focus on the non-lethal use of whales and to recognise the benefits that a properly managed whale watching industry can bring to communities throughout Latin America.
Roxana Schteinbarg representing an Argentinean Conservation Organisation says it is crucial that tourism operators raise their voices to defend the whales. “Whales migrate beyond our shores and when they leave our coast there is a chance they will be killed by a harpoon. It’s vital that the moratorium is maintained, scientific whaling is stopped and sanctuaries are respected.”
The Dominican Republic has the most valuable whale watching industry in the Caribbean. In one bay alone operators cater for 25,000 tourists a year. “The industry brings great socioeconomic benefits to coastal communities,” says Liliana Betancourt from a Dominican Conservation Centre.
Our WSPA representative in Latin America explains that whale watching in the region is managed in a responsible manner and shows that it is not necessary to cause suffering to these beautiful animals in order to generate financial benefits.
Emily Reeves, WSPA
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