The Under Secretary for Protected Areas and Biodiversity of the Ministry of the Environment, Julio Cesar Ureña, said that humpback whales have arrived in Dominican waters 15 days early. He attributed their precocity to the unusually warm and serene waters of the Atlantic. Typically, the whales start to arrive in mid January, and remain in the area until mid March. Several companies organize whale-watching tours, consistent with security regulations that provide the distance to be maintained between for observers and animals, as well as the number and speed of boats. Boats must keep a distance of 80 meters from the mother and 50 meters from other whales. When the boats inch near to the whales they must be in neutral gear, and cannot remain in place for more than 30 minutes. The speed of the craft cannot exceed 5 knots, and no abrupt maneuvers are allowed. In addition, boats must move parallel with the whales. Each trip must be observed by navy personnel as well as personnel from the Sub Secretary’s office. More than 6,000 animals, among a total worldwide population of humpbacks estimated at 10,000 are expected in Dominican waters. They swim south in the winter from Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland, Labrador, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Maine and Norway. (18 January 2001)
