Tonga a potential Whale Heritage Site

NUKU‘ALOFA– Tonga has been included in the draft list of destinations with the potential to become accredited international Whale Heritage Sites.

The concept of Whale Heritage Sites is a new initiative launched by the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) to recognise destinations that champion responsible whale and dolphin watching and celebrate the importance of the cetaceans living in the waters around them.

Under the new scheme, the WCA will award Whale Heritage Site accreditation to areas of the world considered to be “centres of excellence”.

It is hoped that designation of a destination as a Whale Heritage Site will boost visitor numbers and the incomes of tourism providers to a destination, enabling sustainable management of marine resources – and also celebrate the history, the environment and cultural identity of the location.

It will also assist tourists in making the best choices about where to go to watch whales and dolphins in the wild.

The first destinations being considered are Azores, Portugal; Silver Bank, Dominican Republic; El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Mexico; Hervey Bay, Australia; Iceland; Kaikoura, New Zealand; Massachusetts, USA; Outer Barrier Reef, Australia; Washington State-British Columba (USA/Canada); Peninsula Valdez, Argentina; South Africa – and Tonga.

Travel Tour World Tourism News reported that the new initiative represents a new approach to whale conservation, focusing on the destination rather than just specific operators.

WCA secretariat Dylan Walker said the best possible way to protect ocean wildlife is to encourage people to see it for themselves in a responsible way.

“If through Whale Heritage Sites, those same people can also experience coastal communities that celebrate and care for their marine natural heritage and understand the importance of a sustainable approach, we may yet win the battle to save our oceans.”

The first Whale Heritage Sites summit will be held in October this year in Azores Islands.

It is hoped the first Whale Heritage Site status will be awarded in 2016.

WCA is the world’s largest partnership that works to protect whales, dolphins and porpoises consisting of 70 partners in 23 countries worldwide.

The CWA has a dedicated website at whaleheritagesites.org where the concept is fully explained and where applications can be made to be included for potential accreditation.