No one ever says 'I can't remember if I've seen a whale.' A close encounter with one of the most enigmatic and remarkable creatures on the planet is a life-changing experience. This comprehensive and authoritative guide covers everything you need to know about where, when and how to watch whales, dolphins and porpoises in North America. Packed with useful information and top tips to help you get the most out of your trip, it includes a thorough account of whale-watching opportunities in some of the world's hotspots, from Hawai'i and Vancouver Island to the Gulf of Maine and Baja California, as well as detailed accounts of every cetacean species found in North America. Whether you want to watch Blue Whales in Monterey Bay, Killer Whales in the San Juan Islands, Narwhals in the high Arctic or North Atlantic Right Whales in the Bay of Fundy, this is an ideal companion.

"Follows a single gray whale on its annual migration journey"--

Profiles the work of John Craighead George, an Arctic whale scientist, as he studies the bowhead whale and works with the indigenous people of Alaska to better understand the history of the animal.

Explains where whales, dolphins, and porpoises can be found around the world and describes the identifiable features of popular species.

At sunrise, young Michael spots a whale on the shores of the Thames and thinks he must be dreaming. But the creature is real and it has a message for him - one that only an open-minded child can deliver to the rest of the world.

Within little more than a generation, whale-watching has been subject to global industrial development. It has been portrayed by destinations and business operators, and advocated by environmental groups, as a sustainable activity and an alternative to whaling. However, in recent years the sustainability of these activities has increasingly been questioned, as research shows that repeated disturbance by boat traffic can severely disrupt critical behaviours of cetaceans in the wild. Bringing together contributions by international experts, this volume addresses complex issues associated with commercial whale-watching, sustainable development and conservation of the global marine environment. It highlights widely expressed concerns for the failure of policy, planning and management and pinpoints both long-standing and emerging barriers to sustainable practice. Featuring numerous case studies, the book provides critical insights into the diverse socio-cultural, political, economic and ecological contexts of this global industry, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that arise along the pathways to sustainability.