WANT TO end whale hunting? Go whale watching.

“You can have your whales, and benefit from them socially and economically, too’’ said Rashid Sumaila, a marine and fisheries researcher for the University of British Columbia. Sumaila is a co-author of a study this month in the journal Marine Policy that found that whale watching, already a $2.1 billion-a-year business that employs 13,000 people worldwide, has the potential to generate another 5,700 jobs and $400 million more in revenues.

The study makes a strong case “for sparing whales, which can be a source of significant benefits sustainable over time.’’ As the study noted, whale-watching fans certainly eclipse the relative handful of people who enjoy the taste of whale meat. In an interview, Sumaila added, “Some countries say we have to keep hunting whales for economic benefit. The data shows you don’t have to settle for economic crumbs.’’

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