Whale watching and swimming with the whales are key element of the Tongan tourism package but Aunofo Havea Funaki, one of the founders of the sector, says the number of operators has reached unsustainable levels.
Aunofo said, at times, last year there were up to 20 boats operating in a small area.
She raised this matter of unsustainability at a whale conference in Nuku'alofa earlier this month and is confident that the government will reduce the number of licences issued for the new season, starting in July.
