Spinner dolphins bycaught in tuna gillnet fisheries off the coast of Pakistan.  Photo courtesy of WWF Pakistan

Listen to ASWN member Umair Shahid talk about cetacean bycatch in the Indian Ocean on the Marine Mammal Science Podcast by clicking here.  The talk features a great description of WWF Pakistan’s innovative crew-based observer programme that has yielded valuable information on bycatch rates and species, as well as successful bycatch reduction methods.  Umair also talks about his work with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and the International Whaling Commission’s Bycatch Mitigation Initiative, as well as regional efforts to reduce bycatch of many different taxa.