Dominica's Sperm Whale Reserve: What the 2025 Law Changes

Sperm whale mother raising her fluke beside her calf off Dominica. Photo: Ray Harrington on Unsplash

So what is the Dominica sperm whale reserve? In short, it is a marine area along the island's west coast that now has its own law, its own staff and its own rules for visitors. Swimming with the whales is still possible, but only under permits. Unregulated swim-with-whale tours are prohibited inside the reserve.

A law can sound like a dry thing. But this one changes who watches over these whales, how people are allowed to meet them, and even what happens to the photos a swimmer takes. Here is what changed, step by step, and where I am still not sure.

A home written into law

On 14 October 2025, Dominica's Parliament approved the Sperm Whale Reserve Bill 2025, giving legal effect to a promise the government first made in its 2023 to 2024 budget. The government describes it as the world's first marine reserve dedicated to sperm whales. The reserve lies along the west coast.

Now the first honest warning. Sources do not agree on how big the reserve is. The 2023 announcements spoke of about 788 square kilometres, which was under 3 percent of the country's waters. The Bill text published by the Ministry gives 923.3 square kilometres in its first schedule. The government's press release on the bill says about 1,231 square kilometres, including parts of the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone. I think the government figure is the best one to quote, but I have not seen the schedule of the Act itself, so please read the number as "about 1,231, according to the government".

Inside the reserve, the law will regulate whale watching, diving, recreational fishing, marine research and eco-tourism. Sustainable artisanal fishing that does not disturb the whales can continue, which matters a lot for the island's fishing families.

People whose job is the whales

A reserve on paper needs people in real life. The law creates a Sperm Whale Reserve Board and a Sperm Whale Reserve Office within the ministry responsible for the blue and green economy. The office is to be staffed by a Chief Whale Officer and Reserve Rangers, who handle the daily work and enforcement.

The job title has moved around in press coverage, and some earlier reports called the post a "Senior Whale Officer". The 2026 regulations refer to the Chief Whale Officer, appointed under section 16 of the Act, and a July 2026 report said the island was still recruiting for the position. So the structure exists, and the staffing is still being built. I love that there is now a job title that simply says: your work is the whales.

Can you still swim with sperm whales in Dominica?

Before the law, in-water tours were managed through research permits under the Fisheries Act. The government saw this as a workaround, an old tool used for a new situation. Now the new law prohibits unregulated swim-with-whale tours inside the reserve. Swimming is still possible, but under permits and new rules.

The exact distances, group sizes and fees are where I must be careful. The Bill text published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries says, in section 25, that swim-with-the-whales activities in the reserve need a permit issued by the Chief Whale Officer, that no more than two tourism operators may swim with the same whale at the same time, and that the Minister may limit the number of permits. It does not give distances, group sizes or a permit fee, and I could not find official regulations that do. Some operators publish their own numbers, but those describe their own trips, not the law, so I do not repeat them here. Who issues permits in practice while the reserve office is still being staffed is also not clear to me. I would rather say "not yet confirmed" than guess. If you plan a trip, ask the operator for the permit and the written conditions, and check the current rule with the Sperm Whale Reserve Office or the Ministry before you travel. Wildlife encounters are unpredictable. Swimming with sperm whales should always follow local regulations and experienced professional guidance.

Why a reserve matters for a whale family

Sperm whales around Dominica live in family units. The marine biologist Shane Gero, who founded the Dominica Sperm Whale Project, lists the threats as fishing gear entanglement, plastic, noise and collisions with ships, and he has said that the local population declined because of ship strikes and entanglements. Even the number of whales is described differently in different sources: about 200 animals, about 300 in the Eastern Caribbean clan, about 500 across 35 families, or more than 50 families. I do not know which is right, and the differences probably come from different ways of counting.

What is clearer is the protection. Reports on the reserve say that ship traffic is limited to set corridors, including one for the cargo and cruise ships heading to Roseau. A reserve is not a magic solution. But it gives these families a legal home, a team whose job is to protect them, and a way to make tourism part of the answer instead of part of the pressure. You can learn more about the whales themselves in our story on Dominica's sperm whales, and about how this species differs from humpbacks in sperm whales are not humpbacks.

How to be a good guest in the reserve

If you dream of meeting these whales, choose a trip that runs under the new permits, and ask the operator which rules apply on the water. A small group, a calm entry and a crew that is happy to wait are all good signs. The whale decides how close it comes, and when the meeting ends. Our guide on how to choose an ethical whale swim operator gives you the questions to bring.

If you carry a small underwater camera, remember that your clips may now go to the Chief Whale Officer. Film calmly, from where you are, and never follow a whale for a better shot. For a boat day in the Caribbean sun, a mineral sunscreen put on well before you get in and a roll-top dry bag for your phone are simple, quiet extras. Be honest with yourself about travel too: reaching Dominica means flights, and flights have a real carbon cost. A longer stay and fewer trips make that cost easier to justify.

We do not have a Dominica trip of our own, and we will not sell a swim where the rules are still taking shape. If sperm whales are calling you, our Ocean Match is a gentle place to start the conversation, and if this made you curious about experiencing the ocean yourself, you can explore our retreats.

Questions people ask

Is it still possible to swim with sperm whales in Dominica?

Yes, but only under permits and new rules. Unregulated swim-with-whale tours are prohibited inside the reserve. The detailed conditions are not confirmed in the sources I could reach, so ask the operator for the written permit.

How big is the Dominica sperm whale reserve?

Sources differ. The government press release on the 2025 bill says about 1,231 square kilometres along the west coast, including territorial sea and exclusive economic zone waters. Earlier announcements said about 788, and the Bill text published by the Ministry gives 923.3.

Can local fishers still fish inside the reserve?

Sustainable artisanal fishing that does not disturb the whales can continue. Recreational fishing is among the activities the reserve will regulate.

Who enforces the rules?

The law creates a Sperm Whale Reserve Board and an office with a Chief Whale Officer and Reserve Rangers. Recruitment was still under way in mid-2026, so staffing may have changed.

When is the best time to go?

I do not have an official season. One operator lists November to May for its swims, but sperm whales are reported around the island for much of the year. Whales are never guaranteed, in any month.

Does Ocean Calling run trips to swim with sperm whales in Dominica?

No. We do not have a Dominica trip. We only offer encounters where the rules and the evidence are clear.

Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed and never forced. Ocean Calling works only with vetted, ethical local operators, and every animal is free to approach, or not, entirely on its own terms.

Sources & further reading

Further reading on Ocean Calling: Watching sperm whales from the boat in the Azores · Do sperm whales poop to escape orcas? · How to choose an ethical whale swim operator · Dominica in the Ocean Atlas

Dominica Sperm Whale Reserve: What the 2025 Law Changes