Sperm whale hunting was introduced in the Azores by North American whalers during the mid-eighteenth century, and Azoreans were recruited as crew. Soon they learned the profession and adapted it to shore-based whaling. It was directed from land by specialized lookouts, called “vigias”, who scanned the ocean.
Whalers used small boats, rowing or sailing, following the indications of the vigia, and hunting the whale with hand-thrown harpoons. Whaling became less profitable in the 1960s and finally ceased in 1986. In 1989, whale watching started in the region, first in Pico and later in São Miguel (1993). Whale watching inherited the “vigias” from the whalers, giving a new work opportunity to some of them.
It was with the implementation of whale watching that living whales became truly relevant, not only because of the economical income from tourism, but also because it strongly encouraged the recovery of the collective memory. With the increasing interest of visitors, the presence of whales became more apparent for locals, who at that time were almost forgetting about their whaling roots, particularly in some of the islands.
The biological and natural importance of whales for the ecosystem became obvious, making them ideal flagship animals to inspire society to care about the ocean and to protect the Azorean marine ecosystems and its outstanding biodiversity, which became recognized worldwide.
Today artists, musicians and craftsmen find a source of inspiration in whales. Conservation-based cetacean research and policy is showcased within the archipelago, and companies and organisations involved with cetacean interactions incorporate science and research programmes.
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