A new report released today shows that visiting whales are a highly valuable asset to communities around Australia. The report for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) shows that the value of a single whale to local Australian coastal economies can be as high as $1.25 million.
The results, released to coincide with the end of the financial year and National Whale Day (July 2nd), show how important it is for Australia to continue protecting these iconic species.
Incorporating previous research which has shown a steady growth in the Australian whale watching industry, expenditure on whale and dolphin watching in Australia grew in real terms from $6.5 million to $47.1 million between 1991 and 2008, today’s release combines data from whale watching with the latest whale population data to estimate the value a single whale to three Australian whale watching regions: Hervey Bay (QLD), Warrnambool (VIC) and Broome (WA).
“We know that whales are priceless’’ said Isabel McCrea, IFAW, Oceania Regional Director ’’but this report highlights the financial importance of whales to the tourism industry and jobs in regional Australia. It shows that actions to protect these beautiful animals provide both conservation benefits and strong economic benefits to coastal regions of Australia”
The report, entitled What’s a Whale Worth? Valuing Whales for National Whale Day was commissioned by IFAW and conducted by Economists at Large.
In Hervey Bay, Queensland, the birthplace of commercial whale watching in Australia, the industry has grown from 11,000 passengers in 1987 to 64,000 in 2008. The value of an individual humpback whale to the Hervey Bay tourism industry is estimated at $97,000 in present value terms.
In Victoria, Warrnambool is one of the most popular land-based whale watching location in Australia. Due to a relatively large tourism industry based on whale watching and lower population levels for Southern right whales, the value of an individual southern right whale to the local economy is $1.25 million in present value terms.
Broome, in Western Australia, is a relatively new location for whale watching, with the first dedicated boat-based tours being offered in 2008. This is despite the waters of the Kimberley being visited each year by the largest population of Humpback whales in the world. The value of an individual humpback whale to the Broome economy is estimated at $32,000 in present value terms.
Founded in 1969, IFAW saves animals in crisis around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW rescues individual animals, works to prevent cruelty to animals, and advocates for the protection of wildlife and habitats. For more information, visit www.ifaw.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
