Thirty years ago today (July 23 1982) the International Whaling Commission met at the Brighton Hilton Metropole and made the decision to ban whaling. This year, the world’s leading whale charities and whale-watching businesses are returning to the same location to join forces on behalf of whales worldwide.
The ocean waters off New England offer some of the best whale-watching experiences in the world between May and October. Many species of whales including Humpback, Finback, Right and Minke Whales, can be seen daily throughout the season as they migrate to the rich feeding grounds off the coast.
The individual whales, identified by their tail markings and given names, often return to this region each year and are greeted like old friends by whale-watching crews.
Whale hunting was a lucrative business for New England in the 18th and 19th centuries, with hundreds of ships leaving the region’s ports on dangerous expeditions.
The New Bedford Whaling Museum and the Nantucket Historical Association Whaling Museum both tell the story of this once-important industry.
Whale-watching excursions are offered by numerous companies throughout four of the six New England states, including Boston. Here are a few of the many tours on offer:
Bar Harbor Whale Watching Tours
The Gulf of Maine is home to Humpback, Finback and Minke. Three-hour whale-watching excursions cost $59 (£38) per adult; $33 (£21) for juniors aged 6-14; $9 (£6) for children five and under.
Captain Bill and Sons Whale Watch
Family-owned Captain Bill and Sons Whale Watch, based in Gloucester, Massachusetts, offers three-to-four hour excursions to see the world’s largest mammals as they surface, feed and breech in the feeding areas of Stellwagen Bank and Jeffreys Ledge. Trips cost $48 (£31) per adult; $32 (£20) for juniors aged 16 and under; children under three go free.
Atlantic Whale Watch
In July 1974 Captain Brad Cook and naturalist Scott Mercer operated the first whale-watching excursion from New Hampshire in the custom-built Atlantic Queen II. Excursions cost $36 (£23) per adult; $25 (£16) for juniors aged 16 and under; children under three go free.
Frances Fleet
The warm ocean waters off the Port of Galilee, Rhode Island, attract all types of whales including Humpback, Minke, Pilot, False Killer and even Sei whales. The majestic Finback whale, the second-largest mammal to have ever lived in the ocean, feeds in the port as the warm waters also attract giant ocean sunfish, sharks, tuna and marlin, making this the perfect whale-watching spot. Trips run until August 28. The cost is $45 (£29) for adults; $35 (£22) for children.
We wrote a post about whale watching in South America: Whale watching in Brazil. Yup, Brazil!
(Images courtesy of Discover New England)
