Whale Heritage Areas
Heritage Sites
A global accreditation scheme developed by the World Cetacean Alliance.
Whale Heritage Areas are outstanding destinations recognised for providing and celebrating responsible and sustainable wild whale and dolphin watching.
Whale Heritage Areas:
- Hervey Bay, Australia
- Bluff, Durban, South Africa
- La Gomera marine area, Southwest Tenerife, Spain
- Dana Point, California, USA
- Algoa Bay, South Africa
- The Azores, Portugal
- Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
- Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
- Santa Barbara Channel, USA
- Madeira, Portugal
Accreditation requirements
To qualify for this global accreditation, candidate destinations must meet set criteria which recognise their commitment to cetacean conservation through responsible wildlife interactions and sustainability, these include:
- Encouraging respectful human-cetacean coexistence
- Celebrating cetaceans
- Environmental, social and economic sustainability
- Research, education and awareness
A useful guide for tourists
Whale Heritage Area status provides tourists with an easy way to select responsible whale and dolphin watching destinations; places where people can experience cetaceans in their natural habitat and in an authentic and respectful way.
The Whale Heritage Areas scheme offers the travel industry a route to protect marine wildlife and support sustainable practices.
Find out more about Whale Heritage Areas and World Cetacean Alliance
Header image credit: Lloyd Edwards / Raggy Charters