Gray Whale Migration & Blue Whale Migration: Benefits of Whale Watching

Along with the growth of the tourism industry is the growth of whale watching operations, especially brought about by gray whale migration and blue whale migration. Recently, it was recorded that there are over 3,000 operations of whale watching operations around the globe. With this operation, the economy gained a tourism revenue of $2.1 billion per annum. This is often attributed to gray whale migration and Blue Whale Migration.

Aside from that positive impact on the economy, it gives 13,000 workers around the globe the capacity to sustain their needs through the job opportunities that this industry offers.

Further, whale watching doesn't only provide monetary benefits; it also provides emotional, social, and family benefits to tourists. With its growing operations, benefits are increasing. With this, since humans are the sole beneficiaries of this industry, it is necessary to maintain responsible whale watching. Rules and safety measures both for humans and this species must be the priority of the business operators.

While you get too excited about whale-watching trips and other related activities, let us first have a sneak-peek on the lives of these mammals.

What are whales then?

They are part of the oldest and most abundant species of this planet. Like any other mammals, whales are characterized by a nearly hairless skin and an insulating layer of fat. They breathe air, they are warm-blooded, and they produce milk to feed the young ones. They have huge heads, and a full-mouth, with no external neck. They have two nostril openings. Most of them can submerge up to 3-20 minutes underwater. Some can submerge for over an hour. Most of the large whales can be found in the large open oceans. It is where gray whale migration and blue whale migration occurs for a thousand miles, feed and breed.

What are the types of whales?

Two of the most common types of whales are the blue whale and gray whale.

As a distinction, blue whales weigh 300, 000 pounds and can grow as long as 100 ft. They prefer to feed on krill and copepods with an estimate of 8,000 pounds of food needed to fill each stomach each day. Between the two types, blue whale migration is harder to track. However, they are found to travel in warm areas during winter to breed. They prefer to live in deeper ocean waters. During summer, they move to high latitude polar waters where krill becomes very much available. They are endangered species with only 2,800 left.

On the other hand, the gray whales ranked seventh among the whale species with an average size of 44-48 feet and a weight of 60,000 pounds. They prefer to feed on amphipods and mysids. When it comes to gray whale migration,they travel up to 12,000 miles (round trip) each year. They love to spend winters in the warm waters of California and Mexico then eventually move to the chilling waters in the Arctic during summer. There are still a number of them in the estimate of 26,000.

Gray Whale Migration And Blue Whale Migration: Why It Happens

Generally, whales migrate because it is part of their survival mechanism. During summer, when there is food scarcity, they move to a new place where food is abundant. Eventually, within the year, they move to a warmer place where they can mate and breed their species. Hence, they don't stay long in a home. This is why whale watchers do not get to watch any breed of whale anytime. What they see are the types of whales that match the migration period during the whale watching activity.

Since whale watching has been marked as a very beneficial activity, let us know more about its benefits to the wildlife in the ocean and the enthusiastic human beings.

What are the benefits of whale watching?

Growth of revenue in the tourism industry worldwide

Since whale watching activity sprouted worldwide, a significant increase in profit in the tourism industry was recorded. It contributed more than two (2) billion annual benefits to the industry. This feeds businesses such as restaurants, hotels, aviation, and its employees. It doesn't only ease the emotional stress, but it also helped in providing the basic needs of the 13,000 employees in the industry.

Appreciation for wildlife

With its educational element such as lectures on the specifications of various species, the do’s and don'ts while in the area for watching and the discussions on the characteristics of the species, the operators were able to raise awareness among the tourists. They were able to instill the value of these species and the importance of playing the role of humans as stewards of God's creation.

Collection of data

With the ongoing operations of whale watching, it makes the researcher’s job easier by collecting data of the species. Data collected includes habitat use, long-term photo-identification studies, and dolphin distribution. With this, there has been the publication of over 75 peer-reviewed papers. To note, this includes the data which were gathered while they are on board the whale-watching vessels.

A good stress reliever

One of the coolest things that you can do while whale watching is to let these lovely massive creations be near you just by swiftly lifting your hands. The gesture will attract their attention and will move them to get near you due to their curiosity about humans. This eases the person's feeling of loneliness. Thus, this slowly rids your stress away.

A fun-filled and educational family bonding experience

Being in a picnic, going to the mall, or watching movies are suitable family activities that strengthen the relationship. Somehow, family members might get bored doing the same exercises over and over again. Whale watching is a fun-filled and educational bonding activity for the family members. Through whale watching, children (and even adults) will know more about these enormous mammals that we usually see only on television or the internet. The family will be able to experience the intense feeling of excitement when the massive mammal is getting near. Most of all, the family will experience the happiness of profoundly knowing and appreciating God's beautiful creation.