Caine suggests fresh approach to whaling industry in SVG

Has the time come for St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to take a fresh approach to the whaling industry?

Chief agricultural officer Ashley Caine threw out this question on August 16 during the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop on ‘Responsible Whale Watching’, at the Paradise Beach Hotel conference room.{{more}}

“Has the time now come, given global interest in whaling, for us to take a fresh guard…in our whaling industry?” he questioned. Caine noted also that due care and attention must be paid to safeguarding and maintaining the whale population for future generations.

He also stated that whale watching is another way in which we can capitalize on the resource.

“Maybe its time has come that we put it firmly on a national platform to see to what extent it can help to build livelihoods in SVG, while maintaining the stock for future generation.”

He stated that we must engage strategic alliances with those who have worked in the venture and also renew possibilities in the old industries.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony was trustee of the SVG National Trust Louise Mitchell, who said that she believes that Vincentians do not appreciate the natural beauty which surrounds them. She stated that changes are taking place daily and we need to appreciate and preserve what natural resources we have currently.

“The world around us is changing rapidly and the actions of man is having an impact and it is time we took note of that,” Mitchell said. She said that she hoped the workshop would teach participants to appreciate their world more, as well as how to market it as a tourism product.

Cethus Miguel Iniguez, director of the Fundacion Cethus, noted that over 200,000 visitors come to Argentina each year to take part in whale watching activities. The Fundacion Cethus is a non-governmental organization, which was founded in 1992, to conduct research, outreach, as well as conserve dolphins and whales in Argentina.

Miguel Iniguez noted that his organization was participating in the workshop not only to teach participants about ways to capitalize on whale watching, but to also learn from them.

SVG, the smallest whaling nation in the world, was granted, in 2012, a subsistence quota of four Humpback whales per annum. The quota, which was granted by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) expires in 2018. Whaling was introduced to Bequia in 1875 by a Scottish whaler, William Wallace, who had worked on American whaling ships.(CM)