SAMANÁ, Dominican Republic.- Environment minister Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal announced the construction of two observatories in Samaná’s Humpback Whale Sanctuary, aimed at increasing the number of visitors to the zone, without affecting the life of the cetaceans.
“We’ll build two large, land observatories for whales, in which people can walk up and see the whales and thus reduce the number of boats in the future, so that we don’t continue harassing them and don’t invade theire space as much,” said the official.
The ex vice president, who visited Callo Levantao and other parts of Samána Bay, said the project wouldn’t eliminate the boats currently used for the visits, and it’s an alternative to make the service more efficient, since that activity is the main income for many families.
Written by: MannyTav, 23 Feb 2009 3:23 PM
From: United States
Does anyone know when whale watching season is in Samana? I've been to Samana, what a great place to visit!
Written by: josean, 23 Feb 2009 3:33 PM
From: United States
About Dec to March!
Written by: bernies, 23 Feb 2009 3:57 PM
From: United States, key west fl
mid march to april
Written by: josean, 23 Feb 2009 4:04 PM
From: United States
Written by: yumnuk3, 23 Feb 2009 4:26 PM
From: United States
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
this is a great Idea and will allow the elderly and the less financially able school groups etc.to see natures largest creation ....It will also diminish boat traffic near the whales...these licensed boats should also be required to take a certain number of school children per week at a reduced fare....If youre responsible Jaime David good for you
Written by: josean, 23 Feb 2009 6:09 PM
From: United States
St. James continues to "privatize” our national parks God help us!
This is beginning to smell fishy, no offense to the humpbacks!
Source DR1
Businesswoman to Valle Nuevo Park
The Ministry of Environment has appointed propane gas businesswoman Rosa Margarita Bonetti de Santana of Propagas as the new director general of the 914km2 mountain area Juan Bautista Perez Rancier National Park. The park is best known as the site of Valle Nuevo, a paradisiacal mountain area popular with campers. The Ministry of Environment now under Minister Jaime David Fernandez has been appointing high-profile businesspeople to monitor and oversee the welfare of key national resources.
Bonetti's appointment follows those of:
Manuel Estrella of Acero Estrella to the Jose de Jesus Jimenez Almonte National Monument (Pico Diego de Ocampo)
Jose Miguel Gonzalez Cuadra of Centro Cuesta Nacional to the Cabo Cabron National Park (Samana)
Continued:
From: United States, Fresh Water Paradise-NY Finger Lakes
Wow,
Finally, a DR article devoid of cynical commentaries!
I call this progress.
For all of the things going wrong in DR, this is a very positive move and one we should all feel proud about.
Written by: josean, 23 Feb 2009 6:12 PM
From: United States
Ivelisse Garcia of Viveros Plantas Tropicales, as deputy director of the National Botanical Garden
Frank Rainieri of the Grupo Punta Cana to Los Haitises National Park.
Dr. Strangelove you shouldn't have counted your chickens before they hatched! :)
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
who did you want for the job Issa the commie
Written by: josean, 23 Feb 2009 7:08 PM
From: United States
Of course not!
How about Bernie Madoff, Vivian Lubrano de Castillo, Ramon Baez Figueroa, Jack Abramoff, Tom Delay just to name a few respected honorable business people, not to mention Donald Trump!
From: United States
Sounds like a great idea but what does a land humpback whale observatory look like? how does this work? any pics out there? I tried googling it but no luck.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
they would be elevated positions with stationary Binocs and comfort stations.....it would also be a potentially a great place for a small restaurant for the season only
From: United States, Fresh Water Paradise-NY Finger Lakes
Josean,
Yes, I may have spoken prematurely, but tone remains mostly positive-which is a good thing.
From: United States, Fresh Water Paradise-NY Finger Lakes
Yumnuk & Josean,
Thank you very much for links-they are truly marvelous!
GC,
I think your suggestion about tour boats and reduced cost for students is great and appropriate. I know you catch a lot of flack in this forum, but you generally give back as much as they send your way and then some.
Thanks.
Written by: abc200, 23 Feb 2009 11:23 PM
From: United Kingdom
GC just wants to know when there are whales so the Japanese can shoot and outpace Greenpeace. Your real belief is that whalemeat is a great delicacy! Also that the whale just is not a competitive species and it eats the krill that could be used for farmed salmon. Have you a contract to use the satellite phone to report sightings?
S.
From: United States, Fresh Water Paradise-NY Finger Lakes
abc,
You keep talking like that and your Greenpeace card will soon be confiscated.
From: Dominican Republic
There is a Canadian female boat captain that lives in Samana called Kim Beddal. She has been there for years and has a nice whale watching boat in "Victoria Marine", Samana Harbor,Tel 1-809-538-2494.
Kim knows everything there is to know about whale watching.
From: Dominican Republic
Southampton, Islas de Bermudez....
I'm beside myself with disbelief over the positivity in these comments! If I were a 'typical' tourist viewing the everyday comments I would think 1/2 the post-ers were crazy.
There are MANY good things happening in the DR and especially in Samana where I have invested and will be doing only good things in the very near future.
Unfortunately, because my winter hotel business is in a resort in Colorado I have yet to see the ballenas. By the time I reach Samana the end of next month it will be finished again!
If you're near there GO!
Written by: josean, 24 Feb 2009 12:15 PM
From: United States
CaptMarcosSamana,
We just try to keep them honest, on the straight and narrow or we make them walk the plank!
From: Dominican Republic, Punta cana
josean;
I admire your optomism. We're soon to run out of planks I believe.
Written by: josean, 24 Feb 2009 1:53 PM
From: United States
easyrider,
Thank you my two wheeler friend!
From: United States, Fresh Water Paradise-NY Finger Lakes
Couldn't we just get more planks?
From: Dominican Republic
In the modern times of Fiberglass ships we prefer to "Hang Um From De Boom" with the "Main Sheet!"
If that doesn't get their attention, we "Drop 'Em In De Drink"......with a little meat tied to 'em to attract dem sharks....
Written by: josean, 25 Feb 2009 11:55 AM
From: United States
Cap,
How about KEELHAULING?
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http://www.colonialtours.com.do/englishballenas.htm
Mother humpback and two-week old calf in Dominican Republic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZSteZSZ07k
This is beginning to smell fishy, no offense to the humpbacks!
Source DR1
Businesswoman to Valle Nuevo Park
The Ministry of Environment has appointed propane gas businesswoman Rosa Margarita Bonetti de Santana of Propagas as the new director general of the 914km2 mountain area Juan Bautista Perez Rancier National Park. The park is best known as the site of Valle Nuevo, a paradisiacal mountain area popular with campers. The Ministry of Environment now under Minister Jaime David Fernandez has been appointing high-profile businesspeople to monitor and oversee the welfare of key national resources.
Bonetti's appointment follows those of:
Manuel Estrella of Acero Estrella to the Jose de Jesus Jimenez Almonte National Monument (Pico Diego de Ocampo)
Jose Miguel Gonzalez Cuadra of Centro Cuesta Nacional to the Cabo Cabron National Park (Samana)
Continued:
Finally, a DR article devoid of cynical commentaries!
I call this progress.
For all of the things going wrong in DR, this is a very positive move and one we should all feel proud about.
Frank Rainieri of the Grupo Punta Cana to Los Haitises National Park.
Dr. Strangelove you shouldn't have counted your chickens before they hatched! :)
How about Bernie Madoff, Vivian Lubrano de Castillo, Ramon Baez Figueroa, Jack Abramoff, Tom Delay just to name a few respected honorable business people, not to mention Donald Trump!
Yes, I may have spoken prematurely, but tone remains mostly positive-which is a good thing.
Thank you very much for links-they are truly marvelous!
GC,
I think your suggestion about tour boats and reduced cost for students is great and appropriate. I know you catch a lot of flack in this forum, but you generally give back as much as they send your way and then some.
Thanks.
S.
You keep talking like that and your Greenpeace card will soon be confiscated.
Kim knows everything there is to know about whale watching.
I'm beside myself with disbelief over the positivity in these comments! If I were a 'typical' tourist viewing the everyday comments I would think 1/2 the post-ers were crazy.
There are MANY good things happening in the DR and especially in Samana where I have invested and will be doing only good things in the very near future.
Unfortunately, because my winter hotel business is in a resort in Colorado I have yet to see the ballenas. By the time I reach Samana the end of next month it will be finished again!
If you're near there GO!
We just try to keep them honest, on the straight and narrow or we make them walk the plank!
I admire your optomism. We're soon to run out of planks I believe.
Thank you my two wheeler friend!
If that doesn't get their attention, we "Drop 'Em In De Drink"......with a little meat tied to 'em to attract dem sharks....
How about KEELHAULING?