Certified and Candidate Sites

Whale Heritage 2023
This year has already seen new sites received their Certified status, and new locations beginning their journey as Candidate sites. Each site is unique, providing and contributing in different ways to the criteria for becoming certified. During this process, the sites have been receiving a wealth of tailored support from the WCA to aid them in achieving their goal of certification as a world class whale or dolphin watching destination!
Certified Whale Heritage Sites
- Hervey Bay, Australia
- The Bluff, South Africa
- Tenerife-La Gomera Marine Area, Spain
- Dana Point, CA, USA
- Algoa Bay, South Africa
- The Azores, Portugal
- Plettenberg Bay, South Africa



Europe
- Madeira, Portugal
North America
- Vancouver Island, Canada
- Santa Barbara Channel, USA
Oceania
- Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand
- The Whitsundays, Australia
Latin America and The Caribbean
- Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
- Cabo Polonio, Uruguay
- Cabo Pulmo, Mexico
- Santa Catarina Nursery, Brazil
- South San Jorge Gulf, Argentina
- Salvador, Brazil
Asia
- Ombai-Wetar Strait, Timor-Leste