The study shows that whale watching has grown strongly since 2010. The Agoa sanctuary now counts 29 operators, including 20 operating from Martinique, with an annual global turnover estimated at € 2,165,000.
The authors raise that despite the efforts of local players, the very rapid growth of the activity – 3.2 operators per year since 2010 – and the unsustainable trend including a lack of respect regarding rules approach and messages transmitted on board.
The study suggests to face this situation with in priority the establishment of a system of prior authorization in order to achieve a sustainable management of whale watching and to respect the cetacean populations in Agoa.
A “commercial whale watching” commission in the Agoa management board
Following the presentation of the study, during Agoa Management Board, that was held in November 6th, 2015 in St. Martin, councilors voted the establishment of a whale-watching commission who will discuss and formally propose practical recommendations to the current management board 2016. The study is an essential work base in that matter.
It provides an exhaustive survey of whale-watching operators called “commercial” practicing within Agoa, a “zero state” of the activity in the form of socio-economic and ecological indicators (quality approaches, assessment of knowledge, …) with the aim of ensuring its long-term monitoring.
