A coalition of international and regional non-governmental environmental organizations has issued a direct public appeal to the Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda, calling on the Caribbean nation to rule out any return to commercial whaling activities. The appeal comes amid growing international speculation that some small island nations may reconsider lifting long-standing bans on whale hunting in exchange for economic incentives from pro-whaling countries.
NGOs argue that Antigua & Barbuda has built a thriving, sustainable whale watching tourism industry that draws thousands of wildlife enthusiasts to its waters each year, generating far greater long-term economic benefits for local communities than commercial hunting could ever deliver. Beyond economic concerns, the groups emphasize that protecting whale populations supports critical marine ecosystem health—whales play a key role in carbon sequestration and maintaining balanced ocean food webs, which are essential to the Caribbean’s fishing and tourism sectors that form the backbone of the nation’s economy.
The coalition also notes that Antigua & Barbuda’s participation in any resumption of commercial whaling would damage its international reputation as a leader in Caribbean marine conservation. Environmental advocates say they are collecting public signatures from both local residents and global tourists who support permanent protection for the humpback whales and other cetacean species that migrate through Antigua & Barbuda’s waters annually. As of the latest update, the Prime Minister’s office has not issued an official response to the NGOs’ appeal, leaving the international conservation community awaiting clarification on the nation’s future whaling policy.