DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The Ministry of Environment has officially inaugurated the 2026 Humpback Whale-Watching Season. The launch was marked by the signing of an inter-institutional management agreement designed to strengthen control, regulation, and shared responsibility for the protection of whales in Samaná Bay and the Silver and Navidad Bank marine mammal sanctuaries.

The initiative coordinates efforts between public institutions, local authorities, environmental organizations, and authorized tour operators, the Ministry of Environment explains in a press release. The primary goal is to ensure that whale watching is conducted in an orderly fashion that prioritizes both the safety of tourists and the preservation of the marine sanctuary.

Environment Minister Paíno Henríquez emphasized that this agreement enhances the state’s ability to regulate the activity under strict conservation criteria. The Ministry of Environment reaffirms its commitment to protect the country’s natural marine heritage...