Gianna Minton, Andrew Willson, Fredrik Christiansen, Aida Al Jabri, Rabab Al Lawati, Ammar Al Aamri, Robert Baldwin, Tim Collins, Salvatore Cerchio, Maia Sarrouf Willson
Cetacean surveys in Oman November 2019- November 2022 Online
2023.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: Abundance. Photo-ID, endangered, Oman, population
@online{Minton2023,
title = {Cetacean surveys in Oman November 2019- November 2022},
author = {Gianna Minton, Andrew Willson, Fredrik Christiansen, Aida Al Jabri, Rabab Al Lawati,
Ammar Al Aamri, Robert Baldwin, Tim Collins, Salvatore Cerchio, Maia Sarrouf Willson},
url = {https://archive.iwc.int/?r=19976&k=05288c9988},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-04-05},
keywords = {Abundance. Photo-ID, endangered, Oman, population},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {online}
}
Moazzam Khan ,Rab Nawaz, Babar Khan, Sudheer Ahmed.
In: Document presented to the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, vol. SC/68B/CMP/08, no. 170, pp. 11, 2020, ISBN: SC/67A/CMP/05.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, Bryde's whale, Bycatch, Entanglement, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Observer programmes, Pakistan
@article{,
title = {Whale Distribution in the Northern Arabian Sea along Coast of Pakistan in 2019 based on the information obtained through Fisheries Crew-Based Observer Programme},
author = {Moazzam Khan ,Rab Nawaz, Babar Khan, Sudheer Ahmed. },
url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341776439_Whale_Distribution_in_the_Northern_Arabian_Sea_along_Coast_of_Pakistan_in_2019_based_on_the_information_obtained_through_Fisheries_Crew-Based_Observer_Programme},
isbn = { SC/67A/CMP/05},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
urldate = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Document presented to the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
volume = {SC/68B/CMP/08},
number = {170},
pages = {11},
institution = {Document presented to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
abstract = {In 2012 WWF-Pakistan initiated an observer programme to monitor tuna gillnet operations in the coastal and offshore waters of Pakistan. Among other things, these observers were assigned to report observations of whales encountered during fishing operations. These vessels (with onboard observers) provided a platform of opportunity for recording the spatial and temporal distribution of whales in the Northern Arabian Sea. During 2019 a total of 7 sightings of Arabian Sea humpback whales, 1 sighting each of blue whales and Bryde’s whales, 6 sightings of sperm whales,8 sightings of baleen whales (that could not be identified to species level due to lack of adequate photographic or video evidence) and 3 records of entanglement and mortality of Cuvier’s beaked whales..
Fewer whales were recorded through the programme in 2019 than 2018 and 2017 when a total of 35 and 95 sightings of whale were recorded respectively. This decrease in sightings is attributed to many factors, including early closure of the fishing season in early April 2019 because of low catches and unreliable prices of tuna in the market. As such the fishery was closed for four months from mid-April to mid-August instead of the usual two months of June and July.
Extremely high sea surface temperatures during September to October 2019 (possibly an oceanic heat wave) were believed to be the cause of reduced tuna catches. Therefore, only a few tuna boats remained operational during this period. An unprecedented jellyfish bloom of Crambionella orsini from September 2019 onward forced fishermen to stop fishing operations during this period. Furthermore, the observer programme was completed on September, 2019, after which only 45 out of 75 observers voluntarily continued to provide information about sightings. The paper also reports on two baleen whale strandings - a Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera brydei) stranded on the rocky shore at Gunz, western coast of Pakistan and a blue whale in Pushukan, Gwadar (West Bay).},
keywords = {Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, Bryde's whale, Bycatch, Entanglement, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Observer programmes, Pakistan},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In 2012 WWF-Pakistan initiated an observer programme to monitor tuna gillnet operations in the coastal and offshore waters of Pakistan. Among other things, these observers were assigned to report observations of whales encountered during fishing operations. These vessels (with onboard observers) provided a platform of opportunity for recording the spatial and temporal distribution of whales in the Northern Arabian Sea. During 2019 a total of 7 sightings of Arabian Sea humpback whales, 1 sighting each of blue whales and Bryde’s whales, 6 sightings of sperm whales,8 sightings of baleen whales (that could not be identified to species level due to lack of adequate photographic or video evidence) and 3 records of entanglement and mortality of Cuvier’s beaked whales..
Fewer whales were recorded through the programme in 2019 than 2018 and 2017 when a total of 35 and 95 sightings of whale were recorded respectively. This decrease in sightings is attributed to many factors, including early closure of the fishing season in early April 2019 because of low catches and unreliable prices of tuna in the market. As such the fishery was closed for four months from mid-April to mid-August instead of the usual two months of June and July.
Extremely high sea surface temperatures during September to October 2019 (possibly an oceanic heat wave) were believed to be the cause of reduced tuna catches. Therefore, only a few tuna boats remained operational during this period. An unprecedented jellyfish bloom of Crambionella orsini from September 2019 onward forced fishermen to stop fishing operations during this period. Furthermore, the observer programme was completed on September, 2019, after which only 45 out of 75 observers voluntarily continued to provide information about sightings. The paper also reports on two baleen whale strandings - a Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera brydei) stranded on the rocky shore at Gunz, western coast of Pakistan and a blue whale in Pushukan, Gwadar (West Bay).
Fewer whales were recorded through the programme in 2019 than 2018 and 2017 when a total of 35 and 95 sightings of whale were recorded respectively. This decrease in sightings is attributed to many factors, including early closure of the fishing season in early April 2019 because of low catches and unreliable prices of tuna in the market. As such the fishery was closed for four months from mid-April to mid-August instead of the usual two months of June and July.
Extremely high sea surface temperatures during September to October 2019 (possibly an oceanic heat wave) were believed to be the cause of reduced tuna catches. Therefore, only a few tuna boats remained operational during this period. An unprecedented jellyfish bloom of Crambionella orsini from September 2019 onward forced fishermen to stop fishing operations during this period. Furthermore, the observer programme was completed on September, 2019, after which only 45 out of 75 observers voluntarily continued to provide information about sightings. The paper also reports on two baleen whale strandings - a Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera brydei) stranded on the rocky shore at Gunz, western coast of Pakistan and a blue whale in Pushukan, Gwadar (West Bay).
Minton, Gianna,van Bressem, M. F.,Willson, A.,Collins, T.,Al Harthi, S.,Sarrouf Willson, M.,Baldwin, R.,Leslie, M.,Robbins, J.,Van Waerebeek, K
Visual Health Assessment and evaluation of Anthropogenic threats to Arabian Sea Humpback Whales in Oman Technical Report
Document presented to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission no. 418, 2020.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Barnacle, Bycatch, disease, Fisheries, Humpback Whale, killer whale, lesions, megaptera novaeangliae, Oman, pathology, photo identification, predation, scarring, skin, tattoo
@techreport{,
title = {Visual Health Assessment and evaluation of Anthropogenic threats to Arabian Sea Humpback Whales in Oman},
author = {Minton, Gianna,van Bressem, M. F.,Willson, A.,Collins, T.,Al Harthi, S.,Sarrouf Willson, M.,Baldwin, R.,Leslie, M.,Robbins, J.,Van Waerebeek, K},
url = {https://arabianseawhalenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/sc_68b_cmp_16_rev1_visual-health-assessment-of-ashw-in-oman-1.pdf},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Paper presented to the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {418},
pages = {25},
publisher = {IWC},
institution = {Document presented to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
abstract = {Arabian Sea humpback whales have been a subject of conservation concern in the IWC since 1997. Research conducted primarily off the coast of Oman has contributed to understanding the population’s distribution, abundance, and conservation status, whilst information on the population’s health and specific threats is more limited. This study examines all available images of Arabian Sea humpback whales obtained between 2000 and 2018 for evidence of disease, predation, epizoites and human-induced scarring or injury to individuals. Tattoo-like skin disease was detected in 43.4% of 83 adult whales, with a roughly equal distribution between males and females. The prevalence of the disease was significantly higher in 2012-2018 (51.7%) than in 2000-2011 (24.1%). The lesions persisted for two to 14 years in 10 whales and progressed in prevalence and percentage of body cover in six of them. Killer whale tooth rakes were detected in 12% (95% CI 4.5-18%) of individuals based on examination of photographs showing the ventral surface of tail flukes (n=77), but no cookie cutter shark wounds were detected on any body parts of any of the whales examined. Roughly two thirds (66.6%: 95% CI 52-80%) of individuals represented by good quality photos of the caudal peduncle region (n=42) bore scarring patterns considered likely to be associated with entanglement in fishing gear, with no significant differences in entanglement scarring rates between males and females. Four individuals bore injuries consistent with vessel strikes and at least two individuals showed severe injuries and deformations likely to have been caused by interactions with vessels and/or fishing gear. Five documented entanglement events from Oman and Pakistan involved large-mesh nylon gillnets, which are known to be used extensively throughout the Arabian Sea. In light of this population’s endangered status, these findings indicate an urgent need to continue monitoring Arabian Sea humpback whales, with an emphasis on methods that allow continued and expanded assessment of health, body condition, and anthropogenic interactions, aimed toward designing effective conservation strategies to mitigate known threats. },
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Barnacle, Bycatch, disease, Fisheries, Humpback Whale, killer whale, lesions, megaptera novaeangliae, Oman, pathology, photo identification, predation, scarring, skin, tattoo},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Arabian Sea humpback whales have been a subject of conservation concern in the IWC since 1997. Research conducted primarily off the coast of Oman has contributed to understanding the population’s distribution, abundance, and conservation status, whilst information on the population’s health and specific threats is more limited. This study examines all available images of Arabian Sea humpback whales obtained between 2000 and 2018 for evidence of disease, predation, epizoites and human-induced scarring or injury to individuals. Tattoo-like skin disease was detected in 43.4% of 83 adult whales, with a roughly equal distribution between males and females. The prevalence of the disease was significantly higher in 2012-2018 (51.7%) than in 2000-2011 (24.1%). The lesions persisted for two to 14 years in 10 whales and progressed in prevalence and percentage of body cover in six of them. Killer whale tooth rakes were detected in 12% (95% CI 4.5-18%) of individuals based on examination of photographs showing the ventral surface of tail flukes (n=77), but no cookie cutter shark wounds were detected on any body parts of any of the whales examined. Roughly two thirds (66.6%: 95% CI 52-80%) of individuals represented by good quality photos of the caudal peduncle region (n=42) bore scarring patterns considered likely to be associated with entanglement in fishing gear, with no significant differences in entanglement scarring rates between males and females. Four individuals bore injuries consistent with vessel strikes and at least two individuals showed severe injuries and deformations likely to have been caused by interactions with vessels and/or fishing gear. Five documented entanglement events from Oman and Pakistan involved large-mesh nylon gillnets, which are known to be used extensively throughout the Arabian Sea. In light of this population’s endangered status, these findings indicate an urgent need to continue monitoring Arabian Sea humpback whales, with an emphasis on methods that allow continued and expanded assessment of health, body condition, and anthropogenic interactions, aimed toward designing effective conservation strategies to mitigate known threats.
Karan, L.,Clark, N.
A Path to Creating the First Generation of High Seas Protected Areas Technical Report
no. 130, 2020.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, biodiversity, Gulf of Guinea, high seas, Madagascar, Marine Protected Area, Mascarene Islands, migration
@techreport{,
title = {A Path to Creating the First Generation of High Seas Protected Areas},
author = {Karan, L.,Clark, N.},
url = {https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2020/03/a-path-to-creating-the-first-generation-of-high-seas-protected-areas},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
number = {130},
pages = {42},
publisher = {Pew Charitable Trusts},
abstract = {Beyond the horizon, more than 200 nautical miles from shore, lies an area of the ocean known as the high seas.
These waters, beyond the jurisdiction of any nation, make up roughly two-thirds of the ocean and cover nearly
half of the planet’s surface. Much is still to be learned about these areas, but scientists know they teem with life
and are among the largest reservoirs of ocean biodiversity. The high seas support abundant fisheries; provide
habitat and migratory routes for whales, sharks, sea turtles, and seabirds; and harbor remarkable ecosystems,
such as deep-water corals and other majestic marine life.
The high seas are also an increasingly busy space; rapid advances in technology and increasing demand for
goods and trade in recent decades mean virtually no part of the ocean—including these waters far from shore—
remains untouched by human industrial activity. Currently, a patchwork of different regional and sectoral
organizations manages this last global common space with little coordination among organizations, and that
is leading to the degradation of the marine environment and its resources. These areas belong to everyone, yet
governments currently have no comprehensive legal mechanism in place to protect high seas marine life.
There is an opportunity for this to change. Negotiations are under way at the United Nations to finalize a new
high seas treaty focused on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond national
jurisdiction. The treaty could allow nations to establish comprehensive, cross-sector marine protected areas
(MPAs) on the high seas. These areas, when well-managed, can be effective tools in building ocean resilience
to climate change, avoiding fisheries collapse, and preserving biodiversity. Currently, less than 1 per cent of
high seas waters are highly protected, but scientific evidence suggests that protecting at least 30 per cent of
the ocean is more likely to achieve long-term ocean health objectives.1 High seas MPAs can play a key role in
reaching this target.
Although there is much still to discover, scientists have sufficient data and research to begin mapping and
modeling hot spots of biodiversity on the high seas.2 This report identifies some of the special places that could
benefit from protections established under a new high seas treaty. The findings build off a project funded by The
Pew Charitable Trusts and led by scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in conjunction
with partners from 13 universities and organizations. Using an algorithm that allows for consideration of
multiple factors, researchers developed a data-driven analysis to identify areas in the high seas of outstanding
conservation value.
The 10 sites highlighted represent areas with a spectrum and combination of important features, such as
species richness, productivity, and habitat diversity. They are located in oceans that span the globe.
This report also includes recommendations to inform the negotiations under way to finalize a new legally
binding international agreement. The agreement should ensure the establishment of effective high seas
protections, including by setting meaningful conservation objectives and requiring enforceable management
plans for these critical waters beyond the jurisdiction of any single nation. },
keywords = {Arabian Sea, biodiversity, Gulf of Guinea, high seas, Madagascar, Marine Protected Area, Mascarene Islands, migration},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Beyond the horizon, more than 200 nautical miles from shore, lies an area of the ocean known as the high seas.
These waters, beyond the jurisdiction of any nation, make up roughly two-thirds of the ocean and cover nearly
half of the planet’s surface. Much is still to be learned about these areas, but scientists know they teem with life
and are among the largest reservoirs of ocean biodiversity. The high seas support abundant fisheries; provide
habitat and migratory routes for whales, sharks, sea turtles, and seabirds; and harbor remarkable ecosystems,
such as deep-water corals and other majestic marine life.
The high seas are also an increasingly busy space; rapid advances in technology and increasing demand for
goods and trade in recent decades mean virtually no part of the ocean—including these waters far from shore—
remains untouched by human industrial activity. Currently, a patchwork of different regional and sectoral
organizations manages this last global common space with little coordination among organizations, and that
is leading to the degradation of the marine environment and its resources. These areas belong to everyone, yet
governments currently have no comprehensive legal mechanism in place to protect high seas marine life.
There is an opportunity for this to change. Negotiations are under way at the United Nations to finalize a new
high seas treaty focused on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond national
jurisdiction. The treaty could allow nations to establish comprehensive, cross-sector marine protected areas
(MPAs) on the high seas. These areas, when well-managed, can be effective tools in building ocean resilience
to climate change, avoiding fisheries collapse, and preserving biodiversity. Currently, less than 1 per cent of
high seas waters are highly protected, but scientific evidence suggests that protecting at least 30 per cent of
the ocean is more likely to achieve long-term ocean health objectives.1 High seas MPAs can play a key role in
reaching this target.
Although there is much still to discover, scientists have sufficient data and research to begin mapping and
modeling hot spots of biodiversity on the high seas.2 This report identifies some of the special places that could
benefit from protections established under a new high seas treaty. The findings build off a project funded by The
Pew Charitable Trusts and led by scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in conjunction
with partners from 13 universities and organizations. Using an algorithm that allows for consideration of
multiple factors, researchers developed a data-driven analysis to identify areas in the high seas of outstanding
conservation value.
The 10 sites highlighted represent areas with a spectrum and combination of important features, such as
species richness, productivity, and habitat diversity. They are located in oceans that span the globe.
This report also includes recommendations to inform the negotiations under way to finalize a new legally
binding international agreement. The agreement should ensure the establishment of effective high seas
protections, including by setting meaningful conservation objectives and requiring enforceable management
plans for these critical waters beyond the jurisdiction of any single nation.
These waters, beyond the jurisdiction of any nation, make up roughly two-thirds of the ocean and cover nearly
half of the planet’s surface. Much is still to be learned about these areas, but scientists know they teem with life
and are among the largest reservoirs of ocean biodiversity. The high seas support abundant fisheries; provide
habitat and migratory routes for whales, sharks, sea turtles, and seabirds; and harbor remarkable ecosystems,
such as deep-water corals and other majestic marine life.
The high seas are also an increasingly busy space; rapid advances in technology and increasing demand for
goods and trade in recent decades mean virtually no part of the ocean—including these waters far from shore—
remains untouched by human industrial activity. Currently, a patchwork of different regional and sectoral
organizations manages this last global common space with little coordination among organizations, and that
is leading to the degradation of the marine environment and its resources. These areas belong to everyone, yet
governments currently have no comprehensive legal mechanism in place to protect high seas marine life.
There is an opportunity for this to change. Negotiations are under way at the United Nations to finalize a new
high seas treaty focused on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond national
jurisdiction. The treaty could allow nations to establish comprehensive, cross-sector marine protected areas
(MPAs) on the high seas. These areas, when well-managed, can be effective tools in building ocean resilience
to climate change, avoiding fisheries collapse, and preserving biodiversity. Currently, less than 1 per cent of
high seas waters are highly protected, but scientific evidence suggests that protecting at least 30 per cent of
the ocean is more likely to achieve long-term ocean health objectives.1 High seas MPAs can play a key role in
reaching this target.
Although there is much still to discover, scientists have sufficient data and research to begin mapping and
modeling hot spots of biodiversity on the high seas.2 This report identifies some of the special places that could
benefit from protections established under a new high seas treaty. The findings build off a project funded by The
Pew Charitable Trusts and led by scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in conjunction
with partners from 13 universities and organizations. Using an algorithm that allows for consideration of
multiple factors, researchers developed a data-driven analysis to identify areas in the high seas of outstanding
conservation value.
The 10 sites highlighted represent areas with a spectrum and combination of important features, such as
species richness, productivity, and habitat diversity. They are located in oceans that span the globe.
This report also includes recommendations to inform the negotiations under way to finalize a new legally
binding international agreement. The agreement should ensure the establishment of effective high seas
protections, including by setting meaningful conservation objectives and requiring enforceable management
plans for these critical waters beyond the jurisdiction of any single nation.
Goes, Joaquim I.,Tian, Hongzhen,Gomes, Helga do Rosario,Anderson, O. Roger,Al-Hashmi, Khalid,deRada, Sergio,Luo, Hao,Al-Kharusi, Lubna,Al-Azri, Adnan,Martinson, Douglas G.
Ecosystem state change in the Arabian Sea fuelled by the recent loss of snow over the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau region Journal Article
In: Scientific Reports, vol. 10, no. 102, pp. 7422, 2020, ISSN: 2045-2322.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, HAB, harmful algae, Upwelling
@article{,
title = {Ecosystem state change in the Arabian Sea fuelled by the recent loss of snow over the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau region},
author = {Goes, Joaquim I.,Tian, Hongzhen,Gomes, Helga do Rosario,Anderson, O. Roger,Al-Hashmi, Khalid,deRada, Sergio,Luo, Hao,Al-Kharusi, Lubna,Al-Azri, Adnan,Martinson, Douglas G.},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-64360-2},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64360-2},
issn = {2045-2322},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
volume = {10},
number = {102},
pages = {7422},
abstract = {The recent trend of global warming has exerted a disproportionately strong influence on the Eurasian land surface, causing a steady decline in snow cover extent over the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau region. Here we show that this loss of snow is undermining winter convective mixing and causing stratification of the upper layer of the Arabian Sea at a much faster rate than predicted by global climate models. Over the past four decades, the Arabian Sea has also experienced a profound loss of inorganic nitrate. In all probability, this is due to increased denitrification caused by the expansion of the permanent oxygen minimum zone and consequent changes in nutrient stoichiometries. These exceptional changes appear to be creating a niche particularly favorable to the mixotroph, Noctiluca scintillans which has recently replaced diatoms as the dominant winter, bloom forming organism. Although Noctiluca blooms are non-toxic, they can cause fish mortality by exacerbating oxygen deficiency and ammonification of seawater. As a consequence, their continued range expansion represents a significant and growing threat for regional fisheries and the welfare of coastal populations dependent on the Arabian Sea for sustenance.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, HAB, harmful algae, Upwelling},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The recent trend of global warming has exerted a disproportionately strong influence on the Eurasian land surface, causing a steady decline in snow cover extent over the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau region. Here we show that this loss of snow is undermining winter convective mixing and causing stratification of the upper layer of the Arabian Sea at a much faster rate than predicted by global climate models. Over the past four decades, the Arabian Sea has also experienced a profound loss of inorganic nitrate. In all probability, this is due to increased denitrification caused by the expansion of the permanent oxygen minimum zone and consequent changes in nutrient stoichiometries. These exceptional changes appear to be creating a niche particularly favorable to the mixotroph, Noctiluca scintillans which has recently replaced diatoms as the dominant winter, bloom forming organism. Although Noctiluca blooms are non-toxic, they can cause fish mortality by exacerbating oxygen deficiency and ammonification of seawater. As a consequence, their continued range expansion represents a significant and growing threat for regional fisheries and the welfare of coastal populations dependent on the Arabian Sea for sustenance.
Christiansen, F.,Baldwin, R.,Minton, G.,Collins, T.,Sprogis, K. R.,Rudd, J.,al Harthi, S.,Leslie, M.,Macdonald, D. W.,Willson, A.
Assessing the body condition of the world’s only non-migratory humpback whale population, the endangered Arabian Sea humpback whale Technical Report
no. 271, 2020, ISSN: SC_68b_cmp_23_rev1.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Body condition, drones, fitness, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Oman, photo identification, photogrammetry, UAV
@techreport{,
title = {Assessing the body condition of the world’s only non-migratory humpback whale population, the endangered Arabian Sea humpback whale},
author = {Christiansen, F.,Baldwin, R.,Minton, G.,Collins, T.,Sprogis, K. R.,Rudd, J.,al Harthi, S.,Leslie, M.,Macdonald, D. W.,Willson, A.},
url = {https://arabianseawhalenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/sc_68b_cmp_23_rev1_assessment-of-ashw-body-condition-in-oman-1.pdf},
issn = {SC_68b_cmp_23_rev1},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Paper presented to the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {271},
pages = {11},
publisher = {IWC},
abstract = {Arabian Sea humpback whales have been a subject of conservation concern in the IWC since 1997. Research conducted primarily off the coast of Oman has contributed to understanding the population’s distribution, abundance, and conservation status, whilst information on the population’s health and specific threats is more limited. This study examines all available images of Arabian Sea humpback whales obtained between 2000 and 2018 for evidence of disease, predation, epizoites and human-induced scarring or injury to individuals. Tattoo-like skin disease was detected in 43.4% of 83 adult whales, with a roughly equal distribution between males and females. The prevalence of the disease was significantly higher in 2012-2018 (51.7%) than in 2000-2011 (24.1%). The lesions persisted for two to 14 years in 10 whales and progressed in prevalence and percentage of body cover in six of them. Killer whale tooth rakes were detected in 12% (95% CI 4.5-18%) of individuals based on examination of photographs showing the ventral surface of tail flukes (n=77), but no cookie cutter shark wounds were detected on any body parts of any of the whales examined. Roughly two thirds (66.6%: 95% CI 52-80%) of individuals represented by good quality photos of the caudal peduncle region (n=42) bore scarring patterns considered likely to be associated with entanglement in fishing gear, with no significant differences in entanglement scarring rates between males and females. Four individuals bore injuries consistent with vessel strikes and at least two individuals showed severe injuries and deformations likely to have been caused by interactions with vessels and/or fishing gear. Five documented entanglement events from Oman and Pakistan involved large-mesh nylon gillnets, which are known to be used extensively throughout the Arabian Sea. In light of this population’s endangered status, these findings indicate an urgent need to continue monitoring Arabian Sea humpback whales, with an emphasis on methods that allow continued and expanded assessment of health, body condition, and anthropogenic interactions, aimed toward designing effective conservation strategies to mitigate known threats. },
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Body condition, drones, fitness, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Oman, photo identification, photogrammetry, UAV},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Arabian Sea humpback whales have been a subject of conservation concern in the IWC since 1997. Research conducted primarily off the coast of Oman has contributed to understanding the population’s distribution, abundance, and conservation status, whilst information on the population’s health and specific threats is more limited. This study examines all available images of Arabian Sea humpback whales obtained between 2000 and 2018 for evidence of disease, predation, epizoites and human-induced scarring or injury to individuals. Tattoo-like skin disease was detected in 43.4% of 83 adult whales, with a roughly equal distribution between males and females. The prevalence of the disease was significantly higher in 2012-2018 (51.7%) than in 2000-2011 (24.1%). The lesions persisted for two to 14 years in 10 whales and progressed in prevalence and percentage of body cover in six of them. Killer whale tooth rakes were detected in 12% (95% CI 4.5-18%) of individuals based on examination of photographs showing the ventral surface of tail flukes (n=77), but no cookie cutter shark wounds were detected on any body parts of any of the whales examined. Roughly two thirds (66.6%: 95% CI 52-80%) of individuals represented by good quality photos of the caudal peduncle region (n=42) bore scarring patterns considered likely to be associated with entanglement in fishing gear, with no significant differences in entanglement scarring rates between males and females. Four individuals bore injuries consistent with vessel strikes and at least two individuals showed severe injuries and deformations likely to have been caused by interactions with vessels and/or fishing gear. Five documented entanglement events from Oman and Pakistan involved large-mesh nylon gillnets, which are known to be used extensively throughout the Arabian Sea. In light of this population’s endangered status, these findings indicate an urgent need to continue monitoring Arabian Sea humpback whales, with an emphasis on methods that allow continued and expanded assessment of health, body condition, and anthropogenic interactions, aimed toward designing effective conservation strategies to mitigate known threats.
Cerchio, S.,Willson, A.,Leroy, E.C.,Muirhead, C.,Al Harthi, S.,baldwin, R,Cholewiak, D.,Collins, T.,Minton, Gianna,Rasoloarijao, T.,Rogers, T.,Sarrouf Willson, M.
A new blue whale song-type described for the Arabian Sea and Western Indian Ocean Technical Report
no. 513, 2020.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: acoustic detection, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera musculus, behaviour, Blue whale, breeding grounds, Oman, Passive acoustic detection, song
@techreport{,
title = {A new blue whale song-type described for the Arabian Sea and Western Indian Ocean },
author = {Cerchio, S.,Willson, A.,Leroy, E.C.,Muirhead, C.,Al Harthi, S.,baldwin, R,Cholewiak, D.,Collins, T.,Minton, Gianna,Rasoloarijao, T.,Rogers, T.,Sarrouf Willson, M.},
url = {https://arabianseawhalenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/sc_68b_info_28_-new-blue-whale-call-from-oman-2.pdf},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Report Presented to the Scientific Committee meeting of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {513},
publisher = {IWC},
abstract = {Blue whales in the Indian Ocean (IO) are currently thought to represent two or three subspecies (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia, B. m. brevicauda, B. m. indica), and are structured into four populations with diagnostic song-types. Here we describe a previously unreported song-type that implies the existence of a population that has been undetected or conflated with another population. The song-type was recorded off Oman in the northern IO/Arabian Sea, off the western Chagos Archipelago in the equatorial central IO, and off Madagascar in the southwestern IO. As this is the only blue whale song that has been identified in the western Arabian Sea, we label it the “Oman” song-type to distinguish it from other regionally classified song-types. Spatiotemporal variation at the three sites suggested a distribution west of 70°E, with potential affinity for the northern IO/Arabian Sea, and only minor presence in the southwestern IO. Timing of presence off Oman suggests that intensive illegal Soviet whaling that took 1,294 blue whales in the 1960s likely targeted this population, as opposed to the more widely spread “Sri Lanka” acoustic population as previously assumed. Based upon geographic distribution and potential aseasonal reproduction found in the Soviet catch data, we suggest that if there is a northern Indian Ocean subspecies (B. m. c.f. indica), it is likely this population. Moreover, the potentially restricted range, intensive historic whaling, and the fact that the song-type has been previously undetected, suggests a small population that is in critical need of status assessment and conservation action. },
keywords = {acoustic detection, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera musculus, behaviour, Blue whale, breeding grounds, Oman, Passive acoustic detection, song},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Blue whales in the Indian Ocean (IO) are currently thought to represent two or three subspecies (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia, B. m. brevicauda, B. m. indica), and are structured into four populations with diagnostic song-types. Here we describe a previously unreported song-type that implies the existence of a population that has been undetected or conflated with another population. The song-type was recorded off Oman in the northern IO/Arabian Sea, off the western Chagos Archipelago in the equatorial central IO, and off Madagascar in the southwestern IO. As this is the only blue whale song that has been identified in the western Arabian Sea, we label it the “Oman” song-type to distinguish it from other regionally classified song-types. Spatiotemporal variation at the three sites suggested a distribution west of 70°E, with potential affinity for the northern IO/Arabian Sea, and only minor presence in the southwestern IO. Timing of presence off Oman suggests that intensive illegal Soviet whaling that took 1,294 blue whales in the 1960s likely targeted this population, as opposed to the more widely spread “Sri Lanka” acoustic population as previously assumed. Based upon geographic distribution and potential aseasonal reproduction found in the Soviet catch data, we suggest that if there is a northern Indian Ocean subspecies (B. m. c.f. indica), it is likely this population. Moreover, the potentially restricted range, intensive historic whaling, and the fact that the song-type has been previously undetected, suggests a small population that is in critical need of status assessment and conservation action.
Blount, D.,Minton, G.,Khan, Christin B.,Levenson, Jacob,Dulau, Violaine,Gero, S.,Parham, J.,Holmberg, Jason
Document presented to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission no. 330, 2020.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Artificial intelligence, Flukebook, humpback dolphin, Humpback Whale, Indian Ocean, matching, megaptera novaeangliae, methodology, Oman, photo identification, Sousa chinensis
@techreport{,
title = {Flukebook – Continuing growth and technical advancement for cetacean photo identification and data archiving, including automated fin, fluke, and body matching},
author = {Blount, D.,Minton, G.,Khan, Christin B.,Levenson, Jacob,Dulau, Violaine,Gero, S.,Parham, J.,Holmberg, Jason},
url = {https://arabianseawhalenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/sc_68b_ph_06_flukebook-developments-incl-aswn-and-indocet-1.pdf},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Paper presented to the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {330},
pages = {13},
publisher = {IWC},
institution = {Document presented to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
abstract = {Flukebook (flukebook.org) is a non-profit, open source cetacean data archiving and
photo-identification tool developed under the larger Wildbook platform (wildbook.org) that uses
computer vision and machine learning to facilitate automated identification of individual animals
in the wild. In 2016, the IWC approved funding for the development of a regional data platform
for the Arabian Sea Whale Network (ASWN) to be implemented in collaboration with Wild Me
(wildme.org), the software and machine learning developers of Flukebook. This foundational
collaboration expanded the capabilities of Flukebook and served as the springboard for
subsequent years of growth in data and usage (e.g., by regional consortiums), as well as
significant technical improvements in 2019-2020 in the application of computer vision and
machine learning, specifically for North Atlantic and Southern right whales, humpback whales,
sperm whales, and multiple species of dolphins. Ongoing improvements in our community
support model and technical advances are bringing together industry, governmental, and NGO
collaborators in a global-scale platform for cetacean research.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Artificial intelligence, Flukebook, humpback dolphin, Humpback Whale, Indian Ocean, matching, megaptera novaeangliae, methodology, Oman, photo identification, Sousa chinensis},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Flukebook (flukebook.org) is a non-profit, open source cetacean data archiving and
photo-identification tool developed under the larger Wildbook platform (wildbook.org) that uses
computer vision and machine learning to facilitate automated identification of individual animals
in the wild. In 2016, the IWC approved funding for the development of a regional data platform
for the Arabian Sea Whale Network (ASWN) to be implemented in collaboration with Wild Me
(wildme.org), the software and machine learning developers of Flukebook. This foundational
collaboration expanded the capabilities of Flukebook and served as the springboard for
subsequent years of growth in data and usage (e.g., by regional consortiums), as well as
significant technical improvements in 2019-2020 in the application of computer vision and
machine learning, specifically for North Atlantic and Southern right whales, humpback whales,
sperm whales, and multiple species of dolphins. Ongoing improvements in our community
support model and technical advances are bringing together industry, governmental, and NGO
collaborators in a global-scale platform for cetacean research.
photo-identification tool developed under the larger Wildbook platform (wildbook.org) that uses
computer vision and machine learning to facilitate automated identification of individual animals
in the wild. In 2016, the IWC approved funding for the development of a regional data platform
for the Arabian Sea Whale Network (ASWN) to be implemented in collaboration with Wild Me
(wildme.org), the software and machine learning developers of Flukebook. This foundational
collaboration expanded the capabilities of Flukebook and served as the springboard for
subsequent years of growth in data and usage (e.g., by regional consortiums), as well as
significant technical improvements in 2019-2020 in the application of computer vision and
machine learning, specifically for North Atlantic and Southern right whales, humpback whales,
sperm whales, and multiple species of dolphins. Ongoing improvements in our community
support model and technical advances are bringing together industry, governmental, and NGO
collaborators in a global-scale platform for cetacean research.
Anderson, Charles,Herrera, Miguel,Ilangakoon, Anoukchika,Koya, KM,Moazzam, M,Mustika, Putu L,Sutaria, Dipani N
Cetacean bycatch in Indian Ocean tuna gillnet fisheries Journal Article
In: Endangered Species Research, vol. 41, no. 292, pp. 39-53, 2020, ISSN: 1863-5407.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Bycatch, Estimates, Extrapolation, Gill net, gillnet, Indian Ocean, mortality, Observer programmes, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Trends, tuna fishery
@article{,
title = {Cetacean bycatch in Indian Ocean tuna gillnet fisheries},
author = {Anderson, Charles,Herrera, Miguel,Ilangakoon, Anoukchika,Koya, KM,Moazzam, M,Mustika, Putu L,Sutaria, Dipani N},
url = {https://www.int-res.com/prepress/n01008.html},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01008},
issn = {1863-5407},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Endangered Species Research},
volume = {41},
number = {292},
pages = {39-53},
abstract = {Pelagic gillnet (driftnet) fisheries account for some 34% of Indian Ocean tuna catches. We combine published results from 10 bycatch sampling programmes (1981–2016) in Australia, Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan to estimate bycatch rates for cetaceans across all Indian Ocean tuna gillnet fisheries. Estimated cetacean bycatch peaked at almost 100,000 individuals yr–1 during 2004–2006, but has declined by over 15% since then, despite an increase in tuna gillnet fishing effort. These fisheries caught an estimated cumulative total of 4.1 million small cetaceans between 1950 and 2018. These bycatch estimates take little or no account of cetaceans caught by gillnet but not landed, of delayed mortality or sub-lethal impacts on cetaceans (especially whales) that escape from gillnets, of mortality associated with ghost nets, of harpoon catches made from gillnetters, nor of mortality from other tuna fisheries. Total cetacean mortality from Indian Ocean tuna fisheries may therefore be substantially higher than estimated here. Declining cetacean bycatch rates suggest that such levels of mortality are not sustainable. Indeed, mean small cetacean abundance may currently be 13% of pre-fishery levels. None of these estimates are precise, but they do demonstrate the likely order of magnitude of the issue. Countries with the largest current gillnet catches of tuna, and thus the ones likely to have the largest cetacean bycatch are (in order): Iran, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Oman, Yemen, UAE and Tanzania. These 9 countries together may account for roughly 96% of all cetacean bycatch from tuna gillnet fisheries across the Indian Ocean. },
keywords = {Bycatch, Estimates, Extrapolation, Gill net, gillnet, Indian Ocean, mortality, Observer programmes, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Trends, tuna fishery},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Pelagic gillnet (driftnet) fisheries account for some 34% of Indian Ocean tuna catches. We combine published results from 10 bycatch sampling programmes (1981–2016) in Australia, Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan to estimate bycatch rates for cetaceans across all Indian Ocean tuna gillnet fisheries. Estimated cetacean bycatch peaked at almost 100,000 individuals yr–1 during 2004–2006, but has declined by over 15% since then, despite an increase in tuna gillnet fishing effort. These fisheries caught an estimated cumulative total of 4.1 million small cetaceans between 1950 and 2018. These bycatch estimates take little or no account of cetaceans caught by gillnet but not landed, of delayed mortality or sub-lethal impacts on cetaceans (especially whales) that escape from gillnets, of mortality associated with ghost nets, of harpoon catches made from gillnetters, nor of mortality from other tuna fisheries. Total cetacean mortality from Indian Ocean tuna fisheries may therefore be substantially higher than estimated here. Declining cetacean bycatch rates suggest that such levels of mortality are not sustainable. Indeed, mean small cetacean abundance may currently be 13% of pre-fishery levels. None of these estimates are precise, but they do demonstrate the likely order of magnitude of the issue. Countries with the largest current gillnet catches of tuna, and thus the ones likely to have the largest cetacean bycatch are (in order): Iran, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Oman, Yemen, UAE and Tanzania. These 9 countries together may account for roughly 96% of all cetacean bycatch from tuna gillnet fisheries across the Indian Ocean.
Willson, A.,Minton, A. Gianna.,Collins, T. ,Al Harthi, S.,Sarrouf Willson, M.,Cerchio, S,Braulik, G.,Baldwin, R.
Oman Research Update; documenting cetacean diversity and blue whale feeding habitat in Dhofar, southern Oman Technical Report
no. 505, 2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: acoustic, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale, Distribution, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Oman, photo identification
@techreport{,
title = {Oman Research Update; documenting cetacean diversity and blue whale feeding habitat in Dhofar, southern Oman},
author = {Willson, A.,Minton, A. Gianna.,Collins, T. ,Al Harthi, S.,Sarrouf Willson, M.,Cerchio, S,Braulik, G.,Baldwin, R.},
url = {https://arabianseawhalenetworkdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/sc_68a_cmp_08_oman-research-update.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
urldate = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Paper presented to the 2019 meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {505},
pages = {14},
publisher = {IWC},
abstract = {Cetacean research has been conducted in Dhofar, southern Oman, since 2000 During this time efforts have been
primarily focused on documenting the distribution, abundance, and ecology of an Endangered population of
Arabian Sea humpback whales (ASHWs). The research has revealed the Hallaniyats Bay (including our study
site measuring approximately 10,000km2
) to be a habitat of importance for reproductive and foraging related
behaviours. Simultaneously the field surveys have revealed high cetacean diversity in the area, with over 18
species documented at the site, out of a total of 22 species known for the Arabian peninsula between 2003 and
2016. Short opportunistic surveys conducted March 2018 to April 2019 continue to provide evidence of the
ecological importance of the area for a diverse array of species, including several species of large baleen whales
(including humpback whales, Bryde’s whales, and blue whales) as well as a range of large, medium and small
odontocetes. Most recently, in April 2019, blue whales were observed over a three-day period, engaged in
behaviour associated with feeding. As well as documenting this important ecological event the team was able to
collect photographic, tissue and faecal samples that are expected to help resolve issues related to taxonomy and
population structure of blue whales in the northern Indian Ocean. The high levels of cetacean diversity and the
regular occurrence of species of scientific and conservation interest documented within a recent Important
Marine Mammal Area workshop suggest that the area warrants conservation management attention to maintain
its current ‘near-wilderness’ state. },
keywords = {acoustic, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale, Distribution, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Oman, photo identification},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Cetacean research has been conducted in Dhofar, southern Oman, since 2000 During this time efforts have been
primarily focused on documenting the distribution, abundance, and ecology of an Endangered population of
Arabian Sea humpback whales (ASHWs). The research has revealed the Hallaniyats Bay (including our study
site measuring approximately 10,000km2
) to be a habitat of importance for reproductive and foraging related
behaviours. Simultaneously the field surveys have revealed high cetacean diversity in the area, with over 18
species documented at the site, out of a total of 22 species known for the Arabian peninsula between 2003 and
2016. Short opportunistic surveys conducted March 2018 to April 2019 continue to provide evidence of the
ecological importance of the area for a diverse array of species, including several species of large baleen whales
(including humpback whales, Bryde’s whales, and blue whales) as well as a range of large, medium and small
odontocetes. Most recently, in April 2019, blue whales were observed over a three-day period, engaged in
behaviour associated with feeding. As well as documenting this important ecological event the team was able to
collect photographic, tissue and faecal samples that are expected to help resolve issues related to taxonomy and
population structure of blue whales in the northern Indian Ocean. The high levels of cetacean diversity and the
regular occurrence of species of scientific and conservation interest documented within a recent Important
Marine Mammal Area workshop suggest that the area warrants conservation management attention to maintain
its current ‘near-wilderness’ state.
primarily focused on documenting the distribution, abundance, and ecology of an Endangered population of
Arabian Sea humpback whales (ASHWs). The research has revealed the Hallaniyats Bay (including our study
site measuring approximately 10,000km2
) to be a habitat of importance for reproductive and foraging related
behaviours. Simultaneously the field surveys have revealed high cetacean diversity in the area, with over 18
species documented at the site, out of a total of 22 species known for the Arabian peninsula between 2003 and
2016. Short opportunistic surveys conducted March 2018 to April 2019 continue to provide evidence of the
ecological importance of the area for a diverse array of species, including several species of large baleen whales
(including humpback whales, Bryde’s whales, and blue whales) as well as a range of large, medium and small
odontocetes. Most recently, in April 2019, blue whales were observed over a three-day period, engaged in
behaviour associated with feeding. As well as documenting this important ecological event the team was able to
collect photographic, tissue and faecal samples that are expected to help resolve issues related to taxonomy and
population structure of blue whales in the northern Indian Ocean. The high levels of cetacean diversity and the
regular occurrence of species of scientific and conservation interest documented within a recent Important
Marine Mammal Area workshop suggest that the area warrants conservation management attention to maintain
its current ‘near-wilderness’ state.
Sutaria, D.
A Report On Baleen Whale Records And Recent Developments In Marine Mammal Research And Conservation Policy - Update From India Technical Report
no. 240, 2019, ISSN: SC/67A/CMP/03_Rev.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: acoustics, Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale, Bryde's whale, Entanglement, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Persian Gulf, ship strike, song, stranding
@techreport{,
title = {A Report On Baleen Whale Records And Recent Developments In Marine Mammal Research And Conservation Policy - Update From India},
author = {Sutaria, D.},
url = {https://arabianseawhalenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sc_67a_cmp_03_rev1_baleen-whale-records-from-india-1.pdf},
issn = { SC/67A/CMP/03_Rev},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Document presented to the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {240},
pages = {6},
abstract = {Twelve baleen whale reports were collected from June 2018 to May 2019. Of these seven were of live sightings reported by participatory fisher and diver networks along the coast, including two Bryde’s whale groups, and two separate humpback whale sightings of one individual each. The rest were unidentified baleen whale sightings. These reports are summarised here. Five ‘hotspot areas’ of the west coast, were identified, where information was gathered by interviewing fishers and inviting them to be part of a growing participatory reporting network. . We plan to continue this work in 2019-20 with passive acoustic monitoring using SoundTraps in two of the five hotspots. At the National level the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, New Delhi has developed a National Arabian Sea Humpback whale Research and Recovery program. National and State-level programs are being developed, with support from the author and a wider research network in India. We recommend dedicated baleen whale surveys and collaborative efforts with local teams, to carry out long term research and conservation, including a net disentanglement workshop. },
keywords = {acoustics, Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale, Bryde's whale, Entanglement, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Persian Gulf, ship strike, song, stranding},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Twelve baleen whale reports were collected from June 2018 to May 2019. Of these seven were of live sightings reported by participatory fisher and diver networks along the coast, including two Bryde’s whale groups, and two separate humpback whale sightings of one individual each. The rest were unidentified baleen whale sightings. These reports are summarised here. Five ‘hotspot areas’ of the west coast, were identified, where information was gathered by interviewing fishers and inviting them to be part of a growing participatory reporting network. . We plan to continue this work in 2019-20 with passive acoustic monitoring using SoundTraps in two of the five hotspots. At the National level the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, New Delhi has developed a National Arabian Sea Humpback whale Research and Recovery program. National and State-level programs are being developed, with support from the author and a wider research network in India. We recommend dedicated baleen whale surveys and collaborative efforts with local teams, to carry out long term research and conservation, including a net disentanglement workshop.
Soultan, Alaaeldin,Wikelski, Martin,Safi, Kamran
Risk of biodiversity collapse under climate change in the Afro-Arabian region Journal Article
In: Scientific Reports, vol. 9, no. 236, pp. 955, 2019, ISBN: 2045-2322.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabia, Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, biodiversity, Climate change, conservation status, extinction, IUCN Red List, Threat assessment
@article{,
title = {Risk of biodiversity collapse under climate change in the Afro-Arabian region},
author = {Soultan, Alaaeldin,Wikelski, Martin,Safi, Kamran},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-37851-6},
issn = {2045-2322},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
volume = {9},
number = {236},
pages = {955},
abstract = {For 107 endemic mammal species in the Afro-Arabian region, Sahara-Sahel and Arabian Desert, we used ensemble species distribution models to: (1) identify the hotspot areas for conservation, (2) assess the potential impact of the projected climate change on the distribution of the focal species, and (3) assign IUCN threat categories for the focal species according to the predicted changes in their potential distribution range. We identified two main hotspot areas for endemic mammals: the Sinai and its surrounding coastal area in the East, and the Mediterranean Coast around Morocco in the West. Alarmingly, our results indicate that about 17% of the endemic mammals in the Afro-Arabian region under the current climate change scenarios could go extinct before 2050. Overall, a substantial number of the endemic species will change from the IUCN threat category “Least Concern” to “Critically Endangered” or “Extinct” in the coming decades. Accordingly, we call for implementing an urgent proactive conservation action for these endemic species, particularly those that face a high risk of extinction in the next few years. The results of our study provide conservation managers and practitioners with the required information for implementing an effective conservation plan to protect the biodiversity of the Afro-Arabian region.},
keywords = {Arabia, Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, biodiversity, Climate change, conservation status, extinction, IUCN Red List, Threat assessment},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
For 107 endemic mammal species in the Afro-Arabian region, Sahara-Sahel and Arabian Desert, we used ensemble species distribution models to: (1) identify the hotspot areas for conservation, (2) assess the potential impact of the projected climate change on the distribution of the focal species, and (3) assign IUCN threat categories for the focal species according to the predicted changes in their potential distribution range. We identified two main hotspot areas for endemic mammals: the Sinai and its surrounding coastal area in the East, and the Mediterranean Coast around Morocco in the West. Alarmingly, our results indicate that about 17% of the endemic mammals in the Afro-Arabian region under the current climate change scenarios could go extinct before 2050. Overall, a substantial number of the endemic species will change from the IUCN threat category “Least Concern” to “Critically Endangered” or “Extinct” in the coming decades. Accordingly, we call for implementing an urgent proactive conservation action for these endemic species, particularly those that face a high risk of extinction in the next few years. The results of our study provide conservation managers and practitioners with the required information for implementing an effective conservation plan to protect the biodiversity of the Afro-Arabian region.
Rossi, Sergio
The End of the Cetaceans’ Reign Book
Springer International Publishing, 2019, ISBN: 978-3-030-02514-4.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: cetaceans, conservation, Hunting, population decline
@book{,
title = {The End of the Cetaceans’ Reign},
author = {Rossi, Sergio},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02514-4_5},
issn = {978-3-030-02514-4},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Oceans in Decline},
number = {464},
pages = {43-51},
publisher = {Springer International Publishing},
abstract = {One of the first global maritime industries was undoubtedly whaling. It is not known for sure when systematic whaling began, but there is written evidence that in the ninth century AD there were already what we might call small businesses that chased whales from onshore. In Korea there are caves describing the capture of whales around 6000 BC, and the Romans rounded up and killed whale specimens for trade. However, as the chronicles show, it was more sporadic than a flourishing business. Hunting them down was certainly a lucrative, but also a dangerous and strenuous enterprise. In the early Middle Ages whaling boats followed the large cetaceans long distances by rowing, first harpooning them then waiting for the huge animal to come up to the surface to harpoon securely its prominent back.},
keywords = {cetaceans, conservation, Hunting, population decline},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {book}
}
One of the first global maritime industries was undoubtedly whaling. It is not known for sure when systematic whaling began, but there is written evidence that in the ninth century AD there were already what we might call small businesses that chased whales from onshore. In Korea there are caves describing the capture of whales around 6000 BC, and the Romans rounded up and killed whale specimens for trade. However, as the chronicles show, it was more sporadic than a flourishing business. Hunting them down was certainly a lucrative, but also a dangerous and strenuous enterprise. In the early Middle Ages whaling boats followed the large cetaceans long distances by rowing, first harpooning them then waiting for the huge animal to come up to the surface to harpoon securely its prominent back.
Environment Society of Oman
Oman Cetacean Database
2019.
BibTeX | Tags: data analysis, Distribution, diversity, Oman
@{,
title = {Oman Cetacean Database},
author = {Environment Society of Oman},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
number = {422},
keywords = {data analysis, Distribution, diversity, Oman},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {}
}
Mohsenian, Nazanin,Moshiri, Hamed,Tollab, Amin,Bargahi, Hamid Reza,Braulik, Gill T.,Gemmell, Georgina L.,Collins, Tim
Confirmed sightings of the Killer Whale, Orcinus orca, in Iranian waters (Mammalia: Cetacea) Journal Article
In: Zoology in the Middle East, vol. 65, no. 171, pp. 280-282, 2019, ISBN: 0939-7140.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Iran, killer whale, Orcinus orca, Persian Gulf
@article{,
title = {Confirmed sightings of the Killer Whale, Orcinus orca, in Iranian waters (Mammalia: Cetacea)},
author = {Mohsenian, Nazanin,Moshiri, Hamed,Tollab, Amin,Bargahi, Hamid Reza,Braulik, Gill T.,Gemmell, Georgina L.,Collins, Tim},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2019.1596590},
issn = {0939-7140},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Zoology in the Middle East},
volume = {65},
number = {171},
pages = {280-282},
publisher = {Taylor & Francis},
keywords = {Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Iran, killer whale, Orcinus orca, Persian Gulf},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Moazzam, Mohammed,Nawaz, Rab,Khan, B.,Ahmed, S.
no. 169, 2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, Bryde's whale, Bycatch, Entanglement, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Observer programmes, Pakistan
@techreport{,
title = {The Distribution of Whales in the Northern Arabian Sea along the Coast of Pakistan Obtained through Crew-Based Observer Programme- Results of the 2018 fishing season},
author = {Moazzam, Mohammed,Nawaz, Rab,Khan, B.,Ahmed, S.},
url = {https://arabianseawhalenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sc_68a_cmp_07_whale-sightings-from-pakistan-crew-based-observer-programme-1.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
urldate = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Document presented to the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
volume = {SC/68A/CMP/07},
number = {169},
pages = {11},
abstract = {Sightings of whales made by WWF-Pakistan’s Crew Based Observers deputed on tuna gillnet vessels operating along Pakistan’s coast were reported for the 2018 fishing season. A total of 13 sightings of Arabian Sea humpback whales, 2 sightings of blue whales, 1 sightings of Bryde’s whales, 4 sightings of sperm whales and 15 sightings of baleen whales (that could not be identified to species level due to lack of adequate photographic or video evidence) were made during 2018. The number of whales recorded for the year 2018 is much less than 2017 when a total of 95 sightings of whale were recorded from the area. This decrease in sighting is attributed to early closure of fishing season in late April 2018 because of extremely low prices of tuna in the market. Usually a voluntary two month close season is observed between June and July, however, the new fishing season was started in September 2018. The close season, therefore, remained effective for about four months (May to August). In addition, a major part of tuna fishing fleet operated in the further offshore waters (known to have thin population of whales) to avoid checking by Government agencies for implementation on various legislation during November- December 2018. },
keywords = {Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, Bryde's whale, Bycatch, Entanglement, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Observer programmes, Pakistan},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Sightings of whales made by WWF-Pakistan’s Crew Based Observers deputed on tuna gillnet vessels operating along Pakistan’s coast were reported for the 2018 fishing season. A total of 13 sightings of Arabian Sea humpback whales, 2 sightings of blue whales, 1 sightings of Bryde’s whales, 4 sightings of sperm whales and 15 sightings of baleen whales (that could not be identified to species level due to lack of adequate photographic or video evidence) were made during 2018. The number of whales recorded for the year 2018 is much less than 2017 when a total of 95 sightings of whale were recorded from the area. This decrease in sighting is attributed to early closure of fishing season in late April 2018 because of extremely low prices of tuna in the market. Usually a voluntary two month close season is observed between June and July, however, the new fishing season was started in September 2018. The close season, therefore, remained effective for about four months (May to August). In addition, a major part of tuna fishing fleet operated in the further offshore waters (known to have thin population of whales) to avoid checking by Government agencies for implementation on various legislation during November- December 2018.
IWC
Report of the IWC Workshop on Bycatch Mitigation Opportunities in the Western Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea Technical Report
International Whaling Commission no. 124, 2019, ISSN: BMI workshop report 05-19.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Bycatch, Entanglement, Indian Ocean, International Whaling Commission, IOTC, mitigation, Pinger
@techreport{,
title = {Report of the IWC Workshop on Bycatch Mitigation Opportunities in the Western Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea},
author = {IWC},
url = {https://archive.iwc.int/pages/view.php?ref=9612&k=},
issn = {BMI workshop report 05-19},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
number = {124},
pages = {56},
publisher = {International Whaling Commission},
institution = {International Whaling Commission},
abstract = {The International Whaling Commission (IWC) held a technical workshop on Bycatch Mitigation
Opportunities in the Western Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea from 8-9 May 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya. The
workshop was attended by 50 participants working in 17 different countries, with half of the
participants coming from within the Indian Ocean region. Workshop participants included national
government officials working in marine conservation and fisheries management, cetacean and
fisheries researchers, fisheries technologists, socio-economists and representatives from Regional
Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), inter- and non-governmental organisations. The focal
region of the workshop extended from South Africa, north to the Arabian Sea and east to Sri Lanka,
including coastal areas, national waters and high seas. The primary objectives of the workshop were
to (i) develop a broad-scale picture of cetacean bycatch across the North and Western Indian Ocean
region in both artisanal and commercial fisheries; (ii) explore the challenges and opportunities related
to the monitoring and mitigation of cetacean bycatch in the western and northern Indian Ocean
(Arabian Sea); (iii) identify key gaps in knowledge and capacity within the region and tools needed
address these gaps; (iv) introduce the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI) to Indian Ocean stakeholders
and assess how the initiative can be of use; (v) identify potential locations which could serve as BMI
pilot projects; (vi) start building collaborations to tackle bycatch at national, regional and international
level.
Presentations included the status of bycatch knowledge at the Indian Ocean scale and current tools
available to assess, monitor and tackle cetacean bycatch. A panel discussion and breakout group
sessions allowed for more in-depth discussion of the knowledge, gaps and challenges to addressing
bycatch shared across the region. Priority areas where cetacean bycatch is known to be occurring –
or considered likely to be occurring - were identified across the region (see summary map below).
The workshop recognised that bycatch is one of the most significant threats to cetacean species and
populations in the Indian Ocean region and concluded that there was an urgent need to raise
awareness of cetacean bycatch at local, national, regional and international scales. The best available
information suggests that very high numbers of animals are caught in medium-scale tuna gillnet
fisheries in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea region. Furthermore, despite the general lack of data on
cetacean bycatch regionally, it is likely that high numbers of cetaceans, including vulnerable species
and populations, are caught in the extensive coastal artisanal and small-scale fisheries (net, trap and
line) across the region. The workshop concluded that within the Indian Ocean region there was a need
to focus on gillnets (set and drifting) as the fishing gear most likely to be causing the highest and most
significant bycatch of cetaceans, and for which few effective solutions currently exist.
It was recognised that cetacean bycatch is generally very poorly documented in the region and that
this presents a major barrier to understanding the scale of the issue and making progress towards
bycatch reduction. The workshop concluded that a more systematic assessment of bycatch
information is critical, particularly for small-scale and medium-scale fisheries.
A number of common barriers to tackling bycatch were identified, including: under-reporting of
bycatch by fishers; lack of standardised monitoring programmes which are suitable and financially
viable for small-medium-scale vessels; lack of capacity to carry out bycatch monitoring and reduction
programmes; lack of reporting through RFMOs; lack of sustainable funding to carry out bycatch
reduction programmes; lack of awareness and political will to tackle the issue; lack of capacity and
clarity at national level on the steps, tools and approaches to tackle bycatch; lack of baseline
information on cetacean distribution and abundance; and lack of technical solutions proven to work
on the fisheries in the region.
Given the prevalence of small to medium-scale fisheries using passive fishing gears (gillnets, traps, etc)
across the Indian Ocean region, and the lack of financially viable and effective mitigation solutions for
these gears, the workshop concluded that further work to develop and trial low-cost and low-tech
solutions was urgently needed. The utility of existing tools and approaches for assessing and
8
monitoring bycatch in the numerous small to medium-scale fleets was also recognised, including rapid
bycatch risk assessments, remote electronic monitoring and crew-based observer schemes. The
workshop concluded that bycatch reduction efforts should aim to apply multi-disciplinary and multitaxa approaches wherever possible.
The workshop recognised the need for strong collaboration with fishing communities and the
importance of integrating and collecting information on socio-economic aspects of bycatch into
bycatch reduction programmes. Direct engagement with the seafood supply chain, certification
schemes and the culinary community can be a part of rewarding fishers who are working to reduce
bycatch, thereby incentivising participation in bycatch mitigation programs. The workshop concluded
that bycatch reduction programmes should aim, as far as is possible, to support the livelihoods of
fishing communities, and that this should also be considered when exploring options for alternative
livelihoods. It was also recognised that within this region that cetaceans can be the target of directed
catch, or that incidentally caught cetaceans can be used as bait or food, meaning that the term
‘bycatch’ is less well defined.
The workshop participants acknowledged the vital role for Regional Fisheries Management
Organisations (RFMOs) in tackling bycatch and that raising the profile of cetacean bycatch, and the
need to address it, within the context of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), and the Southwest
Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) and their contracting parties should be prioritised. It
recognised that underreporting of bycatch at IOTC remains a challenge. The workshop concluded that
there was an opportunity for the BMI to act as a catalyst to ensure more engagement on cetacean
bycatch and to communicate the relevant research priorities at future meetings.
The workshop noted that the regional focus of the meeting had helped collate existing information on
bycatch and that such an approach was potentially useful for other regions. It agreed that until now
there had not been an international body to champion cetacean bycatch mitigation, and that the IWC’s
Bycatch Mitigation Initiative could collaborate with and where appropriate assist other organisations,
RFMOs and national governments interested in tackling bycatch in a number of ways. The suggested
role and activities for the BMI includes the collaborative development of a regional road map for
tackling cetacean bycatch and a framework for more sustainable funding of bycatch work,
strengthened engagement with RFMOs in the region (e.g. IOTC and SWIOFC) and the provision of
training and technical assistance and development of toolboxes. These activities are envisaged as part
of a collaboration between the IWC and other relevant bodies and organisations that are already
working to tackle bycatch (e.g. the FAO, RFMOs, other IGOs and NGOs) and relevant national
governments and experts.
In light of these conclusions the workshop made the following recommendations as the next steps
across the region in order to progress cetacean bycatch reduction efforts. },
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Bycatch, Entanglement, Indian Ocean, International Whaling Commission, IOTC, mitigation, Pinger},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) held a technical workshop on Bycatch Mitigation
Opportunities in the Western Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea from 8-9 May 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya. The
workshop was attended by 50 participants working in 17 different countries, with half of the
participants coming from within the Indian Ocean region. Workshop participants included national
government officials working in marine conservation and fisheries management, cetacean and
fisheries researchers, fisheries technologists, socio-economists and representatives from Regional
Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), inter- and non-governmental organisations. The focal
region of the workshop extended from South Africa, north to the Arabian Sea and east to Sri Lanka,
including coastal areas, national waters and high seas. The primary objectives of the workshop were
to (i) develop a broad-scale picture of cetacean bycatch across the North and Western Indian Ocean
region in both artisanal and commercial fisheries; (ii) explore the challenges and opportunities related
to the monitoring and mitigation of cetacean bycatch in the western and northern Indian Ocean
(Arabian Sea); (iii) identify key gaps in knowledge and capacity within the region and tools needed
address these gaps; (iv) introduce the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI) to Indian Ocean stakeholders
and assess how the initiative can be of use; (v) identify potential locations which could serve as BMI
pilot projects; (vi) start building collaborations to tackle bycatch at national, regional and international
level.
Presentations included the status of bycatch knowledge at the Indian Ocean scale and current tools
available to assess, monitor and tackle cetacean bycatch. A panel discussion and breakout group
sessions allowed for more in-depth discussion of the knowledge, gaps and challenges to addressing
bycatch shared across the region. Priority areas where cetacean bycatch is known to be occurring –
or considered likely to be occurring - were identified across the region (see summary map below).
The workshop recognised that bycatch is one of the most significant threats to cetacean species and
populations in the Indian Ocean region and concluded that there was an urgent need to raise
awareness of cetacean bycatch at local, national, regional and international scales. The best available
information suggests that very high numbers of animals are caught in medium-scale tuna gillnet
fisheries in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea region. Furthermore, despite the general lack of data on
cetacean bycatch regionally, it is likely that high numbers of cetaceans, including vulnerable species
and populations, are caught in the extensive coastal artisanal and small-scale fisheries (net, trap and
line) across the region. The workshop concluded that within the Indian Ocean region there was a need
to focus on gillnets (set and drifting) as the fishing gear most likely to be causing the highest and most
significant bycatch of cetaceans, and for which few effective solutions currently exist.
It was recognised that cetacean bycatch is generally very poorly documented in the region and that
this presents a major barrier to understanding the scale of the issue and making progress towards
bycatch reduction. The workshop concluded that a more systematic assessment of bycatch
information is critical, particularly for small-scale and medium-scale fisheries.
A number of common barriers to tackling bycatch were identified, including: under-reporting of
bycatch by fishers; lack of standardised monitoring programmes which are suitable and financially
viable for small-medium-scale vessels; lack of capacity to carry out bycatch monitoring and reduction
programmes; lack of reporting through RFMOs; lack of sustainable funding to carry out bycatch
reduction programmes; lack of awareness and political will to tackle the issue; lack of capacity and
clarity at national level on the steps, tools and approaches to tackle bycatch; lack of baseline
information on cetacean distribution and abundance; and lack of technical solutions proven to work
on the fisheries in the region.
Given the prevalence of small to medium-scale fisheries using passive fishing gears (gillnets, traps, etc)
across the Indian Ocean region, and the lack of financially viable and effective mitigation solutions for
these gears, the workshop concluded that further work to develop and trial low-cost and low-tech
solutions was urgently needed. The utility of existing tools and approaches for assessing and
8
monitoring bycatch in the numerous small to medium-scale fleets was also recognised, including rapid
bycatch risk assessments, remote electronic monitoring and crew-based observer schemes. The
workshop concluded that bycatch reduction efforts should aim to apply multi-disciplinary and multitaxa approaches wherever possible.
The workshop recognised the need for strong collaboration with fishing communities and the
importance of integrating and collecting information on socio-economic aspects of bycatch into
bycatch reduction programmes. Direct engagement with the seafood supply chain, certification
schemes and the culinary community can be a part of rewarding fishers who are working to reduce
bycatch, thereby incentivising participation in bycatch mitigation programs. The workshop concluded
that bycatch reduction programmes should aim, as far as is possible, to support the livelihoods of
fishing communities, and that this should also be considered when exploring options for alternative
livelihoods. It was also recognised that within this region that cetaceans can be the target of directed
catch, or that incidentally caught cetaceans can be used as bait or food, meaning that the term
‘bycatch’ is less well defined.
The workshop participants acknowledged the vital role for Regional Fisheries Management
Organisations (RFMOs) in tackling bycatch and that raising the profile of cetacean bycatch, and the
need to address it, within the context of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), and the Southwest
Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) and their contracting parties should be prioritised. It
recognised that underreporting of bycatch at IOTC remains a challenge. The workshop concluded that
there was an opportunity for the BMI to act as a catalyst to ensure more engagement on cetacean
bycatch and to communicate the relevant research priorities at future meetings.
The workshop noted that the regional focus of the meeting had helped collate existing information on
bycatch and that such an approach was potentially useful for other regions. It agreed that until now
there had not been an international body to champion cetacean bycatch mitigation, and that the IWC’s
Bycatch Mitigation Initiative could collaborate with and where appropriate assist other organisations,
RFMOs and national governments interested in tackling bycatch in a number of ways. The suggested
role and activities for the BMI includes the collaborative development of a regional road map for
tackling cetacean bycatch and a framework for more sustainable funding of bycatch work,
strengthened engagement with RFMOs in the region (e.g. IOTC and SWIOFC) and the provision of
training and technical assistance and development of toolboxes. These activities are envisaged as part
of a collaboration between the IWC and other relevant bodies and organisations that are already
working to tackle bycatch (e.g. the FAO, RFMOs, other IGOs and NGOs) and relevant national
governments and experts.
In light of these conclusions the workshop made the following recommendations as the next steps
across the region in order to progress cetacean bycatch reduction efforts.
Opportunities in the Western Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea from 8-9 May 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya. The
workshop was attended by 50 participants working in 17 different countries, with half of the
participants coming from within the Indian Ocean region. Workshop participants included national
government officials working in marine conservation and fisheries management, cetacean and
fisheries researchers, fisheries technologists, socio-economists and representatives from Regional
Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), inter- and non-governmental organisations. The focal
region of the workshop extended from South Africa, north to the Arabian Sea and east to Sri Lanka,
including coastal areas, national waters and high seas. The primary objectives of the workshop were
to (i) develop a broad-scale picture of cetacean bycatch across the North and Western Indian Ocean
region in both artisanal and commercial fisheries; (ii) explore the challenges and opportunities related
to the monitoring and mitigation of cetacean bycatch in the western and northern Indian Ocean
(Arabian Sea); (iii) identify key gaps in knowledge and capacity within the region and tools needed
address these gaps; (iv) introduce the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI) to Indian Ocean stakeholders
and assess how the initiative can be of use; (v) identify potential locations which could serve as BMI
pilot projects; (vi) start building collaborations to tackle bycatch at national, regional and international
level.
Presentations included the status of bycatch knowledge at the Indian Ocean scale and current tools
available to assess, monitor and tackle cetacean bycatch. A panel discussion and breakout group
sessions allowed for more in-depth discussion of the knowledge, gaps and challenges to addressing
bycatch shared across the region. Priority areas where cetacean bycatch is known to be occurring –
or considered likely to be occurring - were identified across the region (see summary map below).
The workshop recognised that bycatch is one of the most significant threats to cetacean species and
populations in the Indian Ocean region and concluded that there was an urgent need to raise
awareness of cetacean bycatch at local, national, regional and international scales. The best available
information suggests that very high numbers of animals are caught in medium-scale tuna gillnet
fisheries in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea region. Furthermore, despite the general lack of data on
cetacean bycatch regionally, it is likely that high numbers of cetaceans, including vulnerable species
and populations, are caught in the extensive coastal artisanal and small-scale fisheries (net, trap and
line) across the region. The workshop concluded that within the Indian Ocean region there was a need
to focus on gillnets (set and drifting) as the fishing gear most likely to be causing the highest and most
significant bycatch of cetaceans, and for which few effective solutions currently exist.
It was recognised that cetacean bycatch is generally very poorly documented in the region and that
this presents a major barrier to understanding the scale of the issue and making progress towards
bycatch reduction. The workshop concluded that a more systematic assessment of bycatch
information is critical, particularly for small-scale and medium-scale fisheries.
A number of common barriers to tackling bycatch were identified, including: under-reporting of
bycatch by fishers; lack of standardised monitoring programmes which are suitable and financially
viable for small-medium-scale vessels; lack of capacity to carry out bycatch monitoring and reduction
programmes; lack of reporting through RFMOs; lack of sustainable funding to carry out bycatch
reduction programmes; lack of awareness and political will to tackle the issue; lack of capacity and
clarity at national level on the steps, tools and approaches to tackle bycatch; lack of baseline
information on cetacean distribution and abundance; and lack of technical solutions proven to work
on the fisheries in the region.
Given the prevalence of small to medium-scale fisheries using passive fishing gears (gillnets, traps, etc)
across the Indian Ocean region, and the lack of financially viable and effective mitigation solutions for
these gears, the workshop concluded that further work to develop and trial low-cost and low-tech
solutions was urgently needed. The utility of existing tools and approaches for assessing and
8
monitoring bycatch in the numerous small to medium-scale fleets was also recognised, including rapid
bycatch risk assessments, remote electronic monitoring and crew-based observer schemes. The
workshop concluded that bycatch reduction efforts should aim to apply multi-disciplinary and multitaxa approaches wherever possible.
The workshop recognised the need for strong collaboration with fishing communities and the
importance of integrating and collecting information on socio-economic aspects of bycatch into
bycatch reduction programmes. Direct engagement with the seafood supply chain, certification
schemes and the culinary community can be a part of rewarding fishers who are working to reduce
bycatch, thereby incentivising participation in bycatch mitigation programs. The workshop concluded
that bycatch reduction programmes should aim, as far as is possible, to support the livelihoods of
fishing communities, and that this should also be considered when exploring options for alternative
livelihoods. It was also recognised that within this region that cetaceans can be the target of directed
catch, or that incidentally caught cetaceans can be used as bait or food, meaning that the term
‘bycatch’ is less well defined.
The workshop participants acknowledged the vital role for Regional Fisheries Management
Organisations (RFMOs) in tackling bycatch and that raising the profile of cetacean bycatch, and the
need to address it, within the context of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), and the Southwest
Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) and their contracting parties should be prioritised. It
recognised that underreporting of bycatch at IOTC remains a challenge. The workshop concluded that
there was an opportunity for the BMI to act as a catalyst to ensure more engagement on cetacean
bycatch and to communicate the relevant research priorities at future meetings.
The workshop noted that the regional focus of the meeting had helped collate existing information on
bycatch and that such an approach was potentially useful for other regions. It agreed that until now
there had not been an international body to champion cetacean bycatch mitigation, and that the IWC’s
Bycatch Mitigation Initiative could collaborate with and where appropriate assist other organisations,
RFMOs and national governments interested in tackling bycatch in a number of ways. The suggested
role and activities for the BMI includes the collaborative development of a regional road map for
tackling cetacean bycatch and a framework for more sustainable funding of bycatch work,
strengthened engagement with RFMOs in the region (e.g. IOTC and SWIOFC) and the provision of
training and technical assistance and development of toolboxes. These activities are envisaged as part
of a collaboration between the IWC and other relevant bodies and organisations that are already
working to tackle bycatch (e.g. the FAO, RFMOs, other IGOs and NGOs) and relevant national
governments and experts.
In light of these conclusions the workshop made the following recommendations as the next steps
across the region in order to progress cetacean bycatch reduction efforts.
Braulik, G.,Natoli, A.,Kiszka, J,Parra, G.,Plon, S.,Smith, B.D.
Tursiops aduncus Journal Article
In: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, vol. Downloaded on 20 April 2020, no. 50, 2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: conservation status, indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, IUCN, Red List, tursiops aduncus
@article{,
title = {Tursiops aduncus},
author = {Braulik, G.,Natoli, A.,Kiszka, J,Parra, G.,Plon, S.,Smith, B.D.},
url = {https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41714/50381127},
doi = {https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T41714A50381127.en},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {IUCN Red List of Threatened Species},
volume = {Downloaded on 20 April 2020},
number = {50},
abstract = {Near-threatened: Justification: Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins generally occur in shallow coastal waters of the Indian Ocean,
Southeast Asia and Australia. They are among the more commonly studied cetaceans in the Indian
Ocean, especially in Shark Bay, Western Australia. However, information on distribution, population size,
and trends in abundance and mortality from much of the species’ range is still very limited. As they are
primarily coastal, Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins often co-occur with fisheries, and bycatch is a major
cause of concern for this species. Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins are also at risk from high levels of
noise and chemical pollution, industrial activity such as oil and gas development, and habitat reduction
caused by land reclamation and coastal development (Curry and Smith 1997, Wells and Scott 1999,
Reeves et al. 2003, Kiszka et al. 2008). Furthermore, survey data suggest that Indo-Pacific Bottlenose
Dolphins occur in relatively small populations or communities with limited geographic ranges, especially
where they reside close to islands (Krützen et al. 2004, Natoli et al. 2008, Fury et al. 2008, Särnblad et al.
2011, Kiszka et al. 2012, Gray et al. 2018), which can exacerbate the impact of human activities and
demographic stochasticity on this species. Estimates of abundance from populations for which
information on bycatch is also available indicate that human-caused mortality is frequently
unsustainable (Cockcroft et al. 1992, Shirakihara and Shirakihara 2012, Preen 2004). Based on the sum
of existing abundance estimates, the total population size for the species over its entire range is likely
well in excess of 40,000 individuals. Large parts of the range have never been surveyed (e.g. much of the
Arabian Sea, Arabian/Persian Gulf, Pakistan, India, Red Sea, Somalia, Yemen, Mozambique, Indonesia,
Philippines). The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin was classified as Data Deficient in 2008. The species
distribution overlaps the range of several other coastal cetacean species that are red-listed as
Endangered (Irrawaddy Dolphin Orcaella brevirostris and Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin Sousa
plumbea) or Vulnerable (Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin Sousa chinensis and Australian Humpback
Dolphin Sousa sahulensis, Australian Snubfin Dolphin Orcaella heinsohni and the Indo-Pacific Finless
Porpoise Neophocaena phocaenoides) and are subject to the same anthropogenic threats. However,
compared to these other species, the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin is assumed to be under less
immediate threat because it has a wider geographic range and probably larger numbers, greater
behavioural plasticity and broader habitat preferences. Data are insufficient to present a robust case for
listing the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin in a threatened category (CR, EN, or VU). However, its coastal
distribution, inferred local declines, and intensity of threats throughout its range lead to the conclusion
that Least Concern is not an appropriate category. The Red List Guidelines (version 11, 2014) state that
“the category Near Threatened is applied to taxa that do not qualify as threatened now, but may be
close to qualifying as threatened, and to taxa that do not currently meet the criteria for a threatened
category, but are likely to do so if ongoing conservation actions abate or cease.” Also, to qualify for Near
Threatened, the taxon “should be close to qualifying for the Vulnerable category; estimates of
population size or habitat should be close to the Vulnerable thresholds, especially when there is a high
degree of uncertainty, or possibly meet some of the subcriteria; and this may be combined with
biological susceptibility and threat.” Considering the above, the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin is listed
as Near Threatened because: 1) it occurs in a relatively small and restricted near-shore range, 2) it is
highly vulnerable to entanglement in fishing gear and its range overlaps with intensive fisheries known
to entangle and kill dolphins, 3) its near-shore habitat is subject to increasing anthropogenic threats
resulting in habitat loss and degradation, and 4) it is experiencing mortality rates that are likely to be
causing population declines in several areas. The species therefore comes close to meeting criterion A4
for Vulnerable. Population size is inferred and suspected to have declined by close to 30% throughout
the range of the species, over three generations and in a time period encompassing the past, present
and future. The causes of the reduction (gillnet entanglement and coastal habitat degradation) have not
ceased. Generation length for Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins, according to Taylor et al. (2007), is 21.1
years, therefore three generations is 63.3 years. Thus, an annual decline of around 0.5% would result in
exceeding the 30% decline in 3 generations. Gillnet fisheries and coastal development are increasing
throughout the range of the species and bycatch is anticipated to remain stable or to increase in the
future without urgent and intensive efforts which are unlikely to be forthcoming. It is important to
emphasize that numerous isolated populations of this species would likely qualify as threatened
subpopulations, particularly those found around island groups in the Indian Ocean.},
keywords = {conservation status, indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, IUCN, Red List, tursiops aduncus},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Near-threatened: Justification: Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins generally occur in shallow coastal waters of the Indian Ocean,
Southeast Asia and Australia. They are among the more commonly studied cetaceans in the Indian
Ocean, especially in Shark Bay, Western Australia. However, information on distribution, population size,
and trends in abundance and mortality from much of the species’ range is still very limited. As they are
primarily coastal, Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins often co-occur with fisheries, and bycatch is a major
cause of concern for this species. Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins are also at risk from high levels of
noise and chemical pollution, industrial activity such as oil and gas development, and habitat reduction
caused by land reclamation and coastal development (Curry and Smith 1997, Wells and Scott 1999,
Reeves et al. 2003, Kiszka et al. 2008). Furthermore, survey data suggest that Indo-Pacific Bottlenose
Dolphins occur in relatively small populations or communities with limited geographic ranges, especially
where they reside close to islands (Krützen et al. 2004, Natoli et al. 2008, Fury et al. 2008, Särnblad et al.
2011, Kiszka et al. 2012, Gray et al. 2018), which can exacerbate the impact of human activities and
demographic stochasticity on this species. Estimates of abundance from populations for which
information on bycatch is also available indicate that human-caused mortality is frequently
unsustainable (Cockcroft et al. 1992, Shirakihara and Shirakihara 2012, Preen 2004). Based on the sum
of existing abundance estimates, the total population size for the species over its entire range is likely
well in excess of 40,000 individuals. Large parts of the range have never been surveyed (e.g. much of the
Arabian Sea, Arabian/Persian Gulf, Pakistan, India, Red Sea, Somalia, Yemen, Mozambique, Indonesia,
Philippines). The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin was classified as Data Deficient in 2008. The species
distribution overlaps the range of several other coastal cetacean species that are red-listed as
Endangered (Irrawaddy Dolphin Orcaella brevirostris and Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin Sousa
plumbea) or Vulnerable (Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin Sousa chinensis and Australian Humpback
Dolphin Sousa sahulensis, Australian Snubfin Dolphin Orcaella heinsohni and the Indo-Pacific Finless
Porpoise Neophocaena phocaenoides) and are subject to the same anthropogenic threats. However,
compared to these other species, the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin is assumed to be under less
immediate threat because it has a wider geographic range and probably larger numbers, greater
behavioural plasticity and broader habitat preferences. Data are insufficient to present a robust case for
listing the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin in a threatened category (CR, EN, or VU). However, its coastal
distribution, inferred local declines, and intensity of threats throughout its range lead to the conclusion
that Least Concern is not an appropriate category. The Red List Guidelines (version 11, 2014) state that
“the category Near Threatened is applied to taxa that do not qualify as threatened now, but may be
close to qualifying as threatened, and to taxa that do not currently meet the criteria for a threatened
category, but are likely to do so if ongoing conservation actions abate or cease.” Also, to qualify for Near
Threatened, the taxon “should be close to qualifying for the Vulnerable category; estimates of
population size or habitat should be close to the Vulnerable thresholds, especially when there is a high
degree of uncertainty, or possibly meet some of the subcriteria; and this may be combined with
biological susceptibility and threat.” Considering the above, the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin is listed
as Near Threatened because: 1) it occurs in a relatively small and restricted near-shore range, 2) it is
highly vulnerable to entanglement in fishing gear and its range overlaps with intensive fisheries known
to entangle and kill dolphins, 3) its near-shore habitat is subject to increasing anthropogenic threats
resulting in habitat loss and degradation, and 4) it is experiencing mortality rates that are likely to be
causing population declines in several areas. The species therefore comes close to meeting criterion A4
for Vulnerable. Population size is inferred and suspected to have declined by close to 30% throughout
the range of the species, over three generations and in a time period encompassing the past, present
and future. The causes of the reduction (gillnet entanglement and coastal habitat degradation) have not
ceased. Generation length for Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins, according to Taylor et al. (2007), is 21.1
years, therefore three generations is 63.3 years. Thus, an annual decline of around 0.5% would result in
exceeding the 30% decline in 3 generations. Gillnet fisheries and coastal development are increasing
throughout the range of the species and bycatch is anticipated to remain stable or to increase in the
future without urgent and intensive efforts which are unlikely to be forthcoming. It is important to
emphasize that numerous isolated populations of this species would likely qualify as threatened
subpopulations, particularly those found around island groups in the Indian Ocean.
Southeast Asia and Australia. They are among the more commonly studied cetaceans in the Indian
Ocean, especially in Shark Bay, Western Australia. However, information on distribution, population size,
and trends in abundance and mortality from much of the species’ range is still very limited. As they are
primarily coastal, Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins often co-occur with fisheries, and bycatch is a major
cause of concern for this species. Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins are also at risk from high levels of
noise and chemical pollution, industrial activity such as oil and gas development, and habitat reduction
caused by land reclamation and coastal development (Curry and Smith 1997, Wells and Scott 1999,
Reeves et al. 2003, Kiszka et al. 2008). Furthermore, survey data suggest that Indo-Pacific Bottlenose
Dolphins occur in relatively small populations or communities with limited geographic ranges, especially
where they reside close to islands (Krützen et al. 2004, Natoli et al. 2008, Fury et al. 2008, Särnblad et al.
2011, Kiszka et al. 2012, Gray et al. 2018), which can exacerbate the impact of human activities and
demographic stochasticity on this species. Estimates of abundance from populations for which
information on bycatch is also available indicate that human-caused mortality is frequently
unsustainable (Cockcroft et al. 1992, Shirakihara and Shirakihara 2012, Preen 2004). Based on the sum
of existing abundance estimates, the total population size for the species over its entire range is likely
well in excess of 40,000 individuals. Large parts of the range have never been surveyed (e.g. much of the
Arabian Sea, Arabian/Persian Gulf, Pakistan, India, Red Sea, Somalia, Yemen, Mozambique, Indonesia,
Philippines). The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin was classified as Data Deficient in 2008. The species
distribution overlaps the range of several other coastal cetacean species that are red-listed as
Endangered (Irrawaddy Dolphin Orcaella brevirostris and Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin Sousa
plumbea) or Vulnerable (Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin Sousa chinensis and Australian Humpback
Dolphin Sousa sahulensis, Australian Snubfin Dolphin Orcaella heinsohni and the Indo-Pacific Finless
Porpoise Neophocaena phocaenoides) and are subject to the same anthropogenic threats. However,
compared to these other species, the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin is assumed to be under less
immediate threat because it has a wider geographic range and probably larger numbers, greater
behavioural plasticity and broader habitat preferences. Data are insufficient to present a robust case for
listing the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin in a threatened category (CR, EN, or VU). However, its coastal
distribution, inferred local declines, and intensity of threats throughout its range lead to the conclusion
that Least Concern is not an appropriate category. The Red List Guidelines (version 11, 2014) state that
“the category Near Threatened is applied to taxa that do not qualify as threatened now, but may be
close to qualifying as threatened, and to taxa that do not currently meet the criteria for a threatened
category, but are likely to do so if ongoing conservation actions abate or cease.” Also, to qualify for Near
Threatened, the taxon “should be close to qualifying for the Vulnerable category; estimates of
population size or habitat should be close to the Vulnerable thresholds, especially when there is a high
degree of uncertainty, or possibly meet some of the subcriteria; and this may be combined with
biological susceptibility and threat.” Considering the above, the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin is listed
as Near Threatened because: 1) it occurs in a relatively small and restricted near-shore range, 2) it is
highly vulnerable to entanglement in fishing gear and its range overlaps with intensive fisheries known
to entangle and kill dolphins, 3) its near-shore habitat is subject to increasing anthropogenic threats
resulting in habitat loss and degradation, and 4) it is experiencing mortality rates that are likely to be
causing population declines in several areas. The species therefore comes close to meeting criterion A4
for Vulnerable. Population size is inferred and suspected to have declined by close to 30% throughout
the range of the species, over three generations and in a time period encompassing the past, present
and future. The causes of the reduction (gillnet entanglement and coastal habitat degradation) have not
ceased. Generation length for Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins, according to Taylor et al. (2007), is 21.1
years, therefore three generations is 63.3 years. Thus, an annual decline of around 0.5% would result in
exceeding the 30% decline in 3 generations. Gillnet fisheries and coastal development are increasing
throughout the range of the species and bycatch is anticipated to remain stable or to increase in the
future without urgent and intensive efforts which are unlikely to be forthcoming. It is important to
emphasize that numerous isolated populations of this species would likely qualify as threatened
subpopulations, particularly those found around island groups in the Indian Ocean.
Betty, Emma L.,Bollard, Barbara,Murphy, Sinéad,Ogle, Mike,Hendriks, Hannah,Orams, Mark B.,Stockin, Karen A.
Using emerging hot spot analysis of stranding records to inform conservation management of a data-poor cetacean species Journal Article
In: Biodiversity and Conservation, no. 327, 2019, ISBN: 1572-9710.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Distribution, Globicephala melas, Long finned pilot whale, mass mortality, Mass Stranding, New Zealand, stranding
@article{,
title = {Using emerging hot spot analysis of stranding records to inform conservation management of a data-poor cetacean species},
author = {Betty, Emma L.,Bollard, Barbara,Murphy, Sinéad,Ogle, Mike,Hendriks, Hannah,Orams, Mark B.,Stockin, Karen A.},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01903-8},
issn = {1572-9710},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Biodiversity and Conservation},
number = {327},
abstract = {Conservation monitoring of highly mobile species in relatively inaccessible habitats presents a considerable challenge to wildlife biologists. Effective conservation strategies require knowledge of cetacean ecology that is often challenging and expensive to obtain. Despite their caveats, stranding data represent an underused resource to study the long-term dynamics of cetacean populations. Using long-finned pilot whale (LFPW; Globicephala melas edwardii) strandings on the New Zealand coast as a case study, we present a novel approach to demonstrate how stranding data can inform conservation management of data-poor species. A total of 8571 LFPWs stranded on the New Zealand coast within a 40-year period between January 1978 and December 2017. Overall, where sex was recorded, mass stranded adults were significantly biased towards females, while a significant male bias was observed in juveniles. Strandings occurred in all months, though significant seasonal variation was evident, with 66% of stranding events reported during austral spring and summer months (October–February). Hot spot analysis (ArcGIS) identified the majority of LFPWs stranded at Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands, with emerging hot spot analysis (ArcGIS) used to identify spatiotemporal trends. While emerging hot spot analysis revealed no significant temporal trend in the annual frequency of stranding events or numbers of individuals stranded, it did reveal a significant spatiotemporal trend, with the numbers of stranded individuals declining in areas of the Far North, Coromandel, Canterbury, Otago and the Chatham Islands, and increasing in Golden Bay and Stewart Island. When combined with other contextual information, such trends help identify the most significant clusters of LFPW strandings on the New Zealand coast, provide baseline ecological data on a poorly understood subspecies, and can be used to guide conservation management of G. m. edwardii in New Zealand waters.},
keywords = {Distribution, Globicephala melas, Long finned pilot whale, mass mortality, Mass Stranding, New Zealand, stranding},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Conservation monitoring of highly mobile species in relatively inaccessible habitats presents a considerable challenge to wildlife biologists. Effective conservation strategies require knowledge of cetacean ecology that is often challenging and expensive to obtain. Despite their caveats, stranding data represent an underused resource to study the long-term dynamics of cetacean populations. Using long-finned pilot whale (LFPW; Globicephala melas edwardii) strandings on the New Zealand coast as a case study, we present a novel approach to demonstrate how stranding data can inform conservation management of data-poor species. A total of 8571 LFPWs stranded on the New Zealand coast within a 40-year period between January 1978 and December 2017. Overall, where sex was recorded, mass stranded adults were significantly biased towards females, while a significant male bias was observed in juveniles. Strandings occurred in all months, though significant seasonal variation was evident, with 66% of stranding events reported during austral spring and summer months (October–February). Hot spot analysis (ArcGIS) identified the majority of LFPWs stranded at Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands, with emerging hot spot analysis (ArcGIS) used to identify spatiotemporal trends. While emerging hot spot analysis revealed no significant temporal trend in the annual frequency of stranding events or numbers of individuals stranded, it did reveal a significant spatiotemporal trend, with the numbers of stranded individuals declining in areas of the Far North, Coromandel, Canterbury, Otago and the Chatham Islands, and increasing in Golden Bay and Stewart Island. When combined with other contextual information, such trends help identify the most significant clusters of LFPW strandings on the New Zealand coast, provide baseline ecological data on a poorly understood subspecies, and can be used to guide conservation management of G. m. edwardii in New Zealand waters.
Aneesh Kumar, K. V.,Baby, Sibi T.,Dhaneesh, K. V.,Manjebrayakath, Hashim,Saravanane, N.,Sudhakar, M.
A Stranding Record of Dwarf Sperm Whale Kogia sima in Lakshadweep Archipelago, India and its Genetic Analogy by Molecular Phylogeny Journal Article
In: Thalassas: An International Journal of Marine Sciences, vol. 35, no. 13, pp. 239-245, 2019, ISBN: 2366-1674.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, India, Indian Ocean, kogia, kogia simus, stranding
@article{,
title = {A Stranding Record of Dwarf Sperm Whale Kogia sima in Lakshadweep Archipelago, India and its Genetic Analogy by Molecular Phylogeny},
author = {Aneesh Kumar, K. V.,Baby, Sibi T.,Dhaneesh, K. V.,Manjebrayakath, Hashim,Saravanane, N.,Sudhakar, M.},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-018-0115-9},
issn = {2366-1674},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Thalassas: An International Journal of Marine Sciences},
volume = {35},
number = {13},
pages = {239-245},
abstract = {The distribution of Kogiid whales from the Indian Ocean waters, especially Indian waters are poorly known. It is extremely difficult to differentiate the two species (Kogia sima and K. breviceps) based on their morphological characteristics alone. Our study presents the first confirmed record of dwarf sperm whale Kogia sima from the Indian waters using morphological examinations, skull morphology and molecular identification. The study is based on the stranded animal found in the west coast of Agatti Island in Lakshadweep Archipelago belongs to the Indian EEZ. K. sima showed intra-species genetic variability which confirms the isolation of the species in oceans as the tropical nature of the species restricts its movement.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, India, Indian Ocean, kogia, kogia simus, stranding},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The distribution of Kogiid whales from the Indian Ocean waters, especially Indian waters are poorly known. It is extremely difficult to differentiate the two species (Kogia sima and K. breviceps) based on their morphological characteristics alone. Our study presents the first confirmed record of dwarf sperm whale Kogia sima from the Indian waters using morphological examinations, skull morphology and molecular identification. The study is based on the stranded animal found in the west coast of Agatti Island in Lakshadweep Archipelago belongs to the Indian EEZ. K. sima showed intra-species genetic variability which confirms the isolation of the species in oceans as the tropical nature of the species restricts its movement.
Willson, A.,Leslie, M.,Baldwin, R.,Cerchio, S.,Childerhouse, S.,Collins, T.,Findlay, K.,Genov, T.,Godley, B. J.,Al Harthi, S.,Macdonald, D. W.,Minton, G.,Zerbini, A.,Witt, M.J.
In: Document presented to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, no. 504, pp. 15, 2018, ISSN: IWC/SC67B/CMP13Rev1.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: health, Humpback Whale, lesions, megaptera novaeangliae, Oman, photo-identification, Satellite telemetry, song, tattoo, UAV
@article{,
title = {Update on satellite telemetry studies and first unoccupied aerial vehicle assisted health assessment studies of Arabian Sea humpback whales off the coast of Oman.},
author = {Willson, A.,Leslie, M.,Baldwin, R.,Cerchio, S.,Childerhouse, S.,Collins, T.,Findlay, K.,Genov, T.,Godley, B. J.,Al Harthi, S.,Macdonald, D. W.,Minton, G.,Zerbini, A.,Witt, M.J.},
url = {https://arabianseawhalenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/sc_67b_cmp_13_rev1_oman-humbpack-whale-research-update-1.pdf},
issn = {IWC/SC67B/CMP13Rev1},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
urldate = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Document presented to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {504},
pages = {15},
publisher = {International Whaling Commission},
abstract = {Four previously documented surveys focusing on satellite tagging Arabian Sea humpback whales (ASHW) have
taken place off the coast of Oman since 2014. We present information of the most recent multidisciplinary survey
from November 2017 including results of telemetry studies to investigate spatial ecology, photo-identification
work to support population estimates and the trial of new methods using Unoccupied Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) in
conducting non-invasive health assessments. The findings document the first record of the transoceanic passage
of an ASHW within the Arabian Sea and preliminary evidence of regional scale connectivity. Small vessel surveys
resulted in 45 hours of effort resulting in a total of 35 sightings and encounters with over 18 identified individual
ASHWs. Five tags were successfully deployed, three being attached to whales already identified in the ASHW
catalogue (one female and two males) and two whales new to the catalogue (of as yet unknown sex). The recent
telemetry work brings the project total to 14 deployed tags. Four whales from the recent tagged group occupied
regions previously described as important habitat in the South of Oman including the Gulf of Masirah and
Hallaniyats Bay. The tag with the longest tracking duration (n=120 days) documented the passage of an adult
female from the Gulf of Masirah across to the west coast of India, south towards to the Gulf of Manar off the
southern tip of India and the subsequent return of the whale to the tagging site. Additionally, a hexacopter UAV
(drone) was used to acquire digital images of 7 whales to inform investigations into body condition (length-width
relationship), tissue scaring and skin disease. UAVs that were flown through respired condensate (blow) resulted
in collection of three viable samples collected for micro-biome assessment of the respiratory tract. On a broad
geographic scale the tracking data continues to confirm the importance of waters over the continental shelf in
southern Oman for ASHW and together with passive acoustic monitoring studies provides new evidence to
support previous understanding on the connectivity between humpback whales of the Arabian Sea. The frequency
of sightings in the study area, and documented breeding related behaviour during the survey supports existing
evidence demonstrating that the Gulf of Masirah is a critical habitat for the ASHW. Effective conservation of this
population requires concerted application of threat mitigation, whilst studies continue to support the on-going
conservation management requirement to understand the broader spatial ecology of the population.},
keywords = {health, Humpback Whale, lesions, megaptera novaeangliae, Oman, photo-identification, Satellite telemetry, song, tattoo, UAV},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Four previously documented surveys focusing on satellite tagging Arabian Sea humpback whales (ASHW) have
taken place off the coast of Oman since 2014. We present information of the most recent multidisciplinary survey
from November 2017 including results of telemetry studies to investigate spatial ecology, photo-identification
work to support population estimates and the trial of new methods using Unoccupied Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) in
conducting non-invasive health assessments. The findings document the first record of the transoceanic passage
of an ASHW within the Arabian Sea and preliminary evidence of regional scale connectivity. Small vessel surveys
resulted in 45 hours of effort resulting in a total of 35 sightings and encounters with over 18 identified individual
ASHWs. Five tags were successfully deployed, three being attached to whales already identified in the ASHW
catalogue (one female and two males) and two whales new to the catalogue (of as yet unknown sex). The recent
telemetry work brings the project total to 14 deployed tags. Four whales from the recent tagged group occupied
regions previously described as important habitat in the South of Oman including the Gulf of Masirah and
Hallaniyats Bay. The tag with the longest tracking duration (n=120 days) documented the passage of an adult
female from the Gulf of Masirah across to the west coast of India, south towards to the Gulf of Manar off the
southern tip of India and the subsequent return of the whale to the tagging site. Additionally, a hexacopter UAV
(drone) was used to acquire digital images of 7 whales to inform investigations into body condition (length-width
relationship), tissue scaring and skin disease. UAVs that were flown through respired condensate (blow) resulted
in collection of three viable samples collected for micro-biome assessment of the respiratory tract. On a broad
geographic scale the tracking data continues to confirm the importance of waters over the continental shelf in
southern Oman for ASHW and together with passive acoustic monitoring studies provides new evidence to
support previous understanding on the connectivity between humpback whales of the Arabian Sea. The frequency
of sightings in the study area, and documented breeding related behaviour during the survey supports existing
evidence demonstrating that the Gulf of Masirah is a critical habitat for the ASHW. Effective conservation of this
population requires concerted application of threat mitigation, whilst studies continue to support the on-going
conservation management requirement to understand the broader spatial ecology of the population.
taken place off the coast of Oman since 2014. We present information of the most recent multidisciplinary survey
from November 2017 including results of telemetry studies to investigate spatial ecology, photo-identification
work to support population estimates and the trial of new methods using Unoccupied Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) in
conducting non-invasive health assessments. The findings document the first record of the transoceanic passage
of an ASHW within the Arabian Sea and preliminary evidence of regional scale connectivity. Small vessel surveys
resulted in 45 hours of effort resulting in a total of 35 sightings and encounters with over 18 identified individual
ASHWs. Five tags were successfully deployed, three being attached to whales already identified in the ASHW
catalogue (one female and two males) and two whales new to the catalogue (of as yet unknown sex). The recent
telemetry work brings the project total to 14 deployed tags. Four whales from the recent tagged group occupied
regions previously described as important habitat in the South of Oman including the Gulf of Masirah and
Hallaniyats Bay. The tag with the longest tracking duration (n=120 days) documented the passage of an adult
female from the Gulf of Masirah across to the west coast of India, south towards to the Gulf of Manar off the
southern tip of India and the subsequent return of the whale to the tagging site. Additionally, a hexacopter UAV
(drone) was used to acquire digital images of 7 whales to inform investigations into body condition (length-width
relationship), tissue scaring and skin disease. UAVs that were flown through respired condensate (blow) resulted
in collection of three viable samples collected for micro-biome assessment of the respiratory tract. On a broad
geographic scale the tracking data continues to confirm the importance of waters over the continental shelf in
southern Oman for ASHW and together with passive acoustic monitoring studies provides new evidence to
support previous understanding on the connectivity between humpback whales of the Arabian Sea. The frequency
of sightings in the study area, and documented breeding related behaviour during the survey supports existing
evidence demonstrating that the Gulf of Masirah is a critical habitat for the ASHW. Effective conservation of this
population requires concerted application of threat mitigation, whilst studies continue to support the on-going
conservation management requirement to understand the broader spatial ecology of the population.
Wabnitz, Colette C. C.,Lam, Vicky W. Y.,Reygondeau, Gabriel,Teh, Lydia C. L.,Al-Abdulrazzak, Dalal,Khalfallah, Myriam,Pauly, Daniel,Palomares, Maria L. Deng,Zeller, Dirk,Cheung, William W. L.
Climate change impacts on marine biodiversity, fisheries and society in the Arabian Gulf Journal Article
In: PLOS ONE, vol. 13, no. 494, pp. e0194537, 2018.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabia, Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, biodiversity, Climate change, diversity, economic impact, Fisheries, Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman
@article{,
title = {Climate change impacts on marine biodiversity, fisheries and society in the Arabian Gulf},
author = {Wabnitz, Colette C. C.,Lam, Vicky W. Y.,Reygondeau, Gabriel,Teh, Lydia C. L.,Al-Abdulrazzak, Dalal,Khalfallah, Myriam,Pauly, Daniel,Palomares, Maria L. Deng,Zeller, Dirk,Cheung, William W. L.},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194537},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {PLOS ONE},
volume = {13},
number = {494},
pages = {e0194537},
publisher = {Public Library of Science},
abstract = {Climate change–reflected in significant environmental changes such as warming, sea level rise, shifts in salinity, oxygen and other ocean conditions–is expected to impact marine organisms and associated fisheries. This study provides an assessment of the potential impacts on, and the vulnerability of, marine biodiversity and fisheries catches in the Arabian Gulf under climate change. To this end, using three separate niche modelling approaches under a ‘business-as-usual’ climate change scenario, we projected the future habitat suitability of the Arabian Gulf (also known as the Persian Gulf) for 55 expert-identified priority species, including charismatic and non-fish species. Second, we conducted a vulnerability assessment of national economies to climate change impacts on fisheries. The modelling outputs suggested a high rate of local extinction (up to 35% of initial species richness) by 2090 relative to 2010. Spatially, projected local extinctions are highest in the southwestern part of the Gulf, off the coast of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While the projected patterns provided useful indicators of potential climate change impacts on the region’s diversity, the magnitude of changes in habitat suitability are more uncertain. Fisheries-specific results suggested reduced future catch potential for several countries on the western side of the Gulf, with projections differing only slightly among models. Qatar and the UAE were particularly affected, with more than a 26% drop in future fish catch potential. Integrating changes in catch potential with socio-economic indicators suggested the fisheries of Bahrain and Iran may be most vulnerable to climate change. We discuss limitations of the indicators and the methods used, as well as the implications of our overall findings for conservation and fisheries management policies in the region.},
keywords = {Arabia, Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, biodiversity, Climate change, diversity, economic impact, Fisheries, Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Climate change–reflected in significant environmental changes such as warming, sea level rise, shifts in salinity, oxygen and other ocean conditions–is expected to impact marine organisms and associated fisheries. This study provides an assessment of the potential impacts on, and the vulnerability of, marine biodiversity and fisheries catches in the Arabian Gulf under climate change. To this end, using three separate niche modelling approaches under a ‘business-as-usual’ climate change scenario, we projected the future habitat suitability of the Arabian Gulf (also known as the Persian Gulf) for 55 expert-identified priority species, including charismatic and non-fish species. Second, we conducted a vulnerability assessment of national economies to climate change impacts on fisheries. The modelling outputs suggested a high rate of local extinction (up to 35% of initial species richness) by 2090 relative to 2010. Spatially, projected local extinctions are highest in the southwestern part of the Gulf, off the coast of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While the projected patterns provided useful indicators of potential climate change impacts on the region’s diversity, the magnitude of changes in habitat suitability are more uncertain. Fisheries-specific results suggested reduced future catch potential for several countries on the western side of the Gulf, with projections differing only slightly among models. Qatar and the UAE were particularly affected, with more than a 26% drop in future fish catch potential. Integrating changes in catch potential with socio-economic indicators suggested the fisheries of Bahrain and Iran may be most vulnerable to climate change. We discuss limitations of the indicators and the methods used, as well as the implications of our overall findings for conservation and fisheries management policies in the region.
Sutaria, D.
Baleen whale reports from the eastern Arabian Sea based on interview surveys and stranding reports - update from India Technical Report
no. 483, 2018, ISSN: SC/67B/CMP/15.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: acoustics, Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale, Bryde's whale, Entanglement, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Persian Gulf, ship strike, song, stranding
@techreport{,
title = {Baleen whale reports from the eastern Arabian Sea based on interview surveys and stranding reports - update from India},
author = {Sutaria, D.},
url = {https://arabianseawhalenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/sc_67b_cmp_15_baleen-whale-records-from-india-1.pdf},
issn = { SC/67B/CMP/15},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Document presented to the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {483},
pages = {16},
abstract = {In 2017-18, seven unidentified baleen whales, two Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni) and two
humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have been reported from the west coast of India (eastern
Arabian Sea). The stranding and sighting reports are summarised here. Fishers were interviewed from
south Gujarat to west Tamil Nadu, for baleen whale sighting events to identify hotspots, and to collect
community perceptions towards baleen whales. Based on these interviews, along with data on
strandings, opportunistic song recordings, and the recent presence of a satellite tagged whale from
Oman, seven regions have been identified as hotspots and habitats used by humpback whales.
Humpback whales in these areas seem to be common during the months of January to March. We
continue our work in 2018-20 with systematic vessel based surveys using dipping hydrophones in four
of the seven hotspots. We recommend dedicated baleen whale surveys and collaborative efforts with
local and international teams, to carry out in-depth analyses of stranding events, and for a larger
coverage in visual surveys with the future use of static passive acoustic monitoring systems.},
keywords = {acoustics, Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale, Bryde's whale, Entanglement, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Persian Gulf, ship strike, song, stranding},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
In 2017-18, seven unidentified baleen whales, two Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni) and two
humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have been reported from the west coast of India (eastern
Arabian Sea). The stranding and sighting reports are summarised here. Fishers were interviewed from
south Gujarat to west Tamil Nadu, for baleen whale sighting events to identify hotspots, and to collect
community perceptions towards baleen whales. Based on these interviews, along with data on
strandings, opportunistic song recordings, and the recent presence of a satellite tagged whale from
Oman, seven regions have been identified as hotspots and habitats used by humpback whales.
Humpback whales in these areas seem to be common during the months of January to March. We
continue our work in 2018-20 with systematic vessel based surveys using dipping hydrophones in four
of the seven hotspots. We recommend dedicated baleen whale surveys and collaborative efforts with
local and international teams, to carry out in-depth analyses of stranding events, and for a larger
coverage in visual surveys with the future use of static passive acoustic monitoring systems.
humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have been reported from the west coast of India (eastern
Arabian Sea). The stranding and sighting reports are summarised here. Fishers were interviewed from
south Gujarat to west Tamil Nadu, for baleen whale sighting events to identify hotspots, and to collect
community perceptions towards baleen whales. Based on these interviews, along with data on
strandings, opportunistic song recordings, and the recent presence of a satellite tagged whale from
Oman, seven regions have been identified as hotspots and habitats used by humpback whales.
Humpback whales in these areas seem to be common during the months of January to March. We
continue our work in 2018-20 with systematic vessel based surveys using dipping hydrophones in four
of the seven hotspots. We recommend dedicated baleen whale surveys and collaborative efforts with
local and international teams, to carry out in-depth analyses of stranding events, and for a larger
coverage in visual surveys with the future use of static passive acoustic monitoring systems.
Romañach, Stephanie S.,DeAngelis, Donald L.,Koh, Hock Lye,Li, Yuhong,Teh, Su Yean,Raja Barizan, Raja Sulaiman,Zhai, Lu
Conservation and restoration of mangroves: Global status, perspectives, and prognosis Journal Article
In: Ocean & Coastal Management, vol. 154, no. 453, pp. 72-82, 2018, ISBN: 0964-5691.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: conservation, ecosystem services, management, mangrove, restoration
@article{,
title = {Conservation and restoration of mangroves: Global status, perspectives, and prognosis},
author = {Romañach, Stephanie S.,DeAngelis, Donald L.,Koh, Hock Lye,Li, Yuhong,Teh, Su Yean,Raja Barizan, Raja Sulaiman,Zhai, Lu},
url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569117301710},
issn = {0964-5691},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Ocean & Coastal Management},
volume = {154},
number = {453},
pages = {72-82},
abstract = {Mangrove forests provide critical services around the globe to both human populations and the ecosystems they occupy. However, losses of mangrove habitat of more than 50% have been recorded in some parts of the world, and these losses are largely attributable to human activities. The importance of mangroves and the threats to their persistence have long been recognized, leading to actions taken locally, by national governments, and through international agreements for their protection. In this review, we explore the status of mangrove forests as well as efforts to protect them. We examine threats to the persistence of mangroves, consequences, and potential solutions for effective conservation. We present case studies from disparate regions of the world, showing that the integration of human livelihood needs in a manner that balances conservation goals can present solutions that could lead to long-term sustainability of mangrove forests throughout the world.},
keywords = {conservation, ecosystem services, management, mangrove, restoration},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Mangrove forests provide critical services around the globe to both human populations and the ecosystems they occupy. However, losses of mangrove habitat of more than 50% have been recorded in some parts of the world, and these losses are largely attributable to human activities. The importance of mangroves and the threats to their persistence have long been recognized, leading to actions taken locally, by national governments, and through international agreements for their protection. In this review, we explore the status of mangrove forests as well as efforts to protect them. We examine threats to the persistence of mangroves, consequences, and potential solutions for effective conservation. We present case studies from disparate regions of the world, showing that the integration of human livelihood needs in a manner that balances conservation goals can present solutions that could lead to long-term sustainability of mangrove forests throughout the world.
Rabearisoa, Njaratiana,Sabarros, Philippe S.,Romanov, Evgeny V.,Lucas, Vincent,Bach, Pascal
Toothed whale and shark depredation indicators: A case study from the Reunion Island and Seychelles pelagic longline fisheries Journal Article
In: PLOS ONE, vol. 13, no. 440, pp. e0202037, 2018.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Bycatch, depredation, Indian Ocean, longline, Reunion, Seychelles
@article{,
title = {Toothed whale and shark depredation indicators: A case study from the Reunion Island and Seychelles pelagic longline fisheries},
author = {Rabearisoa, Njaratiana,Sabarros, Philippe S.,Romanov, Evgeny V.,Lucas, Vincent,Bach, Pascal},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202037},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {PLOS ONE},
volume = {13},
number = {440},
pages = {e0202037},
publisher = {Public Library of Science},
abstract = {Depredation in marine ecosystems is defined as the damage or removal of fish or bait from fishing gear by predators. Depredation raises concerns about the conservation of species involved, fisheries yield and profitability, and reference points based on stock assessment of depredated species. Therefore, the development of accurate indicators to assess the impact of depredation is needed. Both the Reunion Island and the Seychelles archipelago pelagic longline fisheries targeting swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and tuna (Thunnus spp.) are affected by depredation from toothed whales and pelagic sharks. In this study, we used fishery data collected between 2004 and 2015 to propose depredation indicators and to assess depredation levels in both fisheries. For both fisheries, the interaction rate (depredation occurrence) was significantly higher for shark compared to toothed whale depredation. However, when depredation occurred, toothed whale depredation impact was significantly higher than shark depredation impact, with higher depredation per unit effort (number of fish depredated per 1000 hooks) and damage rate (proportion of fish depredated per depredated set). The gross depredation rate in the Seychelles was 18.3%. A slight increase of the gross depredation rate was observed for the Reunion Island longline fleet from 2011 (4.1% in 2007–2010 and 4.4% in 2011–2015). Economic losses due to depredation were estimated by using these indicators and published official statistics. A loss of 0.09 EUR/hook due to depredation was estimated for the Reunion Island longline fleet, and 0.86 EUR/hook for the Seychelles. These results suggest a southward decreasing toothed whale and shark depredation gradient in the southwest Indian Ocean. Seychelles depredation levels are among the highest observed in the world revealing this area as a “hotspot” of interaction between pelagic longline fisheries and toothed whales. This study also highlights the need for a set of depredation indicators to allow for a global comparison of depredation rates among various fishing grounds worldwide.},
keywords = {Bycatch, depredation, Indian Ocean, longline, Reunion, Seychelles},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Depredation in marine ecosystems is defined as the damage or removal of fish or bait from fishing gear by predators. Depredation raises concerns about the conservation of species involved, fisheries yield and profitability, and reference points based on stock assessment of depredated species. Therefore, the development of accurate indicators to assess the impact of depredation is needed. Both the Reunion Island and the Seychelles archipelago pelagic longline fisheries targeting swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and tuna (Thunnus spp.) are affected by depredation from toothed whales and pelagic sharks. In this study, we used fishery data collected between 2004 and 2015 to propose depredation indicators and to assess depredation levels in both fisheries. For both fisheries, the interaction rate (depredation occurrence) was significantly higher for shark compared to toothed whale depredation. However, when depredation occurred, toothed whale depredation impact was significantly higher than shark depredation impact, with higher depredation per unit effort (number of fish depredated per 1000 hooks) and damage rate (proportion of fish depredated per depredated set). The gross depredation rate in the Seychelles was 18.3%. A slight increase of the gross depredation rate was observed for the Reunion Island longline fleet from 2011 (4.1% in 2007–2010 and 4.4% in 2011–2015). Economic losses due to depredation were estimated by using these indicators and published official statistics. A loss of 0.09 EUR/hook due to depredation was estimated for the Reunion Island longline fleet, and 0.86 EUR/hook for the Seychelles. These results suggest a southward decreasing toothed whale and shark depredation gradient in the southwest Indian Ocean. Seychelles depredation levels are among the highest observed in the world revealing this area as a “hotspot” of interaction between pelagic longline fisheries and toothed whales. This study also highlights the need for a set of depredation indicators to allow for a global comparison of depredation rates among various fishing grounds worldwide.
Madhusudhana, Shyam Kumar,Chakraborty, Bishwajit,Latha, G.
Humpback whale singing activity off the Goan coast in the Eastern Arabian Sea Journal Article
In: Bioacoustics, no. 147, pp. 1-16, 2018, ISBN: 0952-4622.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, breeding, Goa, Humpback Whale, India, Megaptera novaeanglia, PAM, passive acoustic monitoring, song, vocal behaviour
@article{,
title = {Humpback whale singing activity off the Goan coast in the Eastern Arabian Sea},
author = {Madhusudhana, Shyam Kumar,Chakraborty, Bishwajit,Latha, G.},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/09524622.2018.1458248},
issn = {0952-4622},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Bioacoustics},
number = {147},
pages = {1-16},
publisher = {Taylor & Francis},
abstract = {AbstractFor over two decades, passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) methods have been successfully employed around the world for studying aquatic megafauna. PAM-driven studies in Indian waters have so far been relatively very scarce. Furthermore, cetacean populations inhabiting the north western Indian Ocean are far less studied than those in many other regions around the world. This work likely constitutes the first systematic study of the vocal repertoire of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) at a near-shore site along the western coast of India. Analysis of the observed vocalizations provides an insight into the behaviour of the species. This is significant as it assists in developing a better understanding of the habitat use of the non-migratory Arabian Sea humpback whale population. In contrast, other breeding populations such as those around the North Atlantic, South Pacific and Australia have been relatively well studied. Underwater passive acoustic data were collected during March 2017 using an autonomous logger at a shallow-water site off the eastern edge of Grande Island off the coast of Goa. Humpback whale vocalizations were found to occur over multiple days in the recordings. Time?frequency contours of individual units of vocalization were extracted with the aid of an automatic detection technique and the characteristics of the units were measured. Further, successive units were analysed for formation of phrases and themes. Reconstruction of putative songs from the identified units and themes was not possible due to the limitations imposed by the nature of data collection. Detailed analyses of units, phrases and themes are presented.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, breeding, Goa, Humpback Whale, India, Megaptera novaeanglia, PAM, passive acoustic monitoring, song, vocal behaviour},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
AbstractFor over two decades, passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) methods have been successfully employed around the world for studying aquatic megafauna. PAM-driven studies in Indian waters have so far been relatively very scarce. Furthermore, cetacean populations inhabiting the north western Indian Ocean are far less studied than those in many other regions around the world. This work likely constitutes the first systematic study of the vocal repertoire of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) at a near-shore site along the western coast of India. Analysis of the observed vocalizations provides an insight into the behaviour of the species. This is significant as it assists in developing a better understanding of the habitat use of the non-migratory Arabian Sea humpback whale population. In contrast, other breeding populations such as those around the North Atlantic, South Pacific and Australia have been relatively well studied. Underwater passive acoustic data were collected during March 2017 using an autonomous logger at a shallow-water site off the eastern edge of Grande Island off the coast of Goa. Humpback whale vocalizations were found to occur over multiple days in the recordings. Time?frequency contours of individual units of vocalization were extracted with the aid of an automatic detection technique and the characteristics of the units were measured. Further, successive units were analysed for formation of phrases and themes. Reconstruction of putative songs from the identified units and themes was not possible due to the limitations imposed by the nature of data collection. Detailed analyses of units, phrases and themes are presented.
IWC
Report of the Scientific Committee: Annex O: Cetacean Stocks that Are or Might be Subject of Conservation Management Plans (CMPs) Technical Report
no. 123, 2018.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, conservation, IWC
@techreport{,
title = {Report of the Scientific Committee: Annex O: Cetacean Stocks that Are or Might be Subject of Conservation Management Plans (CMPs)},
author = {IWC},
url = {https://archive.iwc.int/pages/download.php?ref=13044&ext=pdf&alternative=5232&noattach=true},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
urldate = {2018-01-01},
number = {123},
pages = {20},
publisher = {International Whaling Commission},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, conservation, IWC},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
de Vos,Asha,Faux,Cassandra E.,Marthick,James,Dickinson,Joanne,Jarman,Simon N.
New Determination of Prey and Parasite Species for Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whales Journal Article
In: Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 5, no. 84, 2018, ISBN: 2296-7745.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Acanthocephala, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera musculus, behaviour, blue whales, DNA metabarcoding,Sri Lanka,Blue whales,feeding,Northern Indian Ocean,faeces,Sergestid,Euphausiidae,Acanthocephala,shrimp,krill,behaviour, euphasids, Faeces, fecal analysis, feeding, Krill, Northern Indian Ocean, parasites, prey, Sergestid shrimp, shrimp, Sri Lanka
@article{,
title = {New Determination of Prey and Parasite Species for Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whales},
author = {de Vos,Asha,Faux,Cassandra E.,Marthick,James,Dickinson,Joanne,Jarman,Simon N.},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2018.00104},
issn = {2296-7745},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Frontiers in Marine Science},
volume = {5},
number = {84},
abstract = {Blue whales are little studied, face significant anthropogenic threats and within the Northern Indian Ocean, have a restricted range, making them an archetype for conservation needs of megafauna around the world. We studied feeding behaviour of blue whales using dietary DNA metabarcoding of faecal samples. While globally blue whale populations feed predominantly on Euphausiidae, 87 % of prey DNA amplicons extracted from faecal samples from this population were sergestid shrimp, demonstrating that blue whales can locate and feed on dense swarms of other types of prey when they occur. Within the Indian Ocean sergestids are present within the top 300 m, which correlates with the deep scattering layer observed by hydroacoustics. Studies suggest that this requirement to dive deeper in search of prey likely explains the prevalence of fluke up diving within this population of blue whales relative to other parts of the globe. Furthermore, this study revealed the presence of acanthocephalan endoparasites within the stomach and intestines of the Northern Indian Ocean blue whales. This represents the first record of Acanthocephala in blue whales in the Northern Indian Ocean and highlights the need for further studies on both the ecto- and endoparasitic flora and monitoring of health of these cetaceans for their management and conservation.},
keywords = {Acanthocephala, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera musculus, behaviour, blue whales, DNA metabarcoding,Sri Lanka,Blue whales,feeding,Northern Indian Ocean,faeces,Sergestid,Euphausiidae,Acanthocephala,shrimp,krill,behaviour, euphasids, Faeces, fecal analysis, feeding, Krill, Northern Indian Ocean, parasites, prey, Sergestid shrimp, shrimp, Sri Lanka},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Blue whales are little studied, face significant anthropogenic threats and within the Northern Indian Ocean, have a restricted range, making them an archetype for conservation needs of megafauna around the world. We studied feeding behaviour of blue whales using dietary DNA metabarcoding of faecal samples. While globally blue whale populations feed predominantly on Euphausiidae, 87 % of prey DNA amplicons extracted from faecal samples from this population were sergestid shrimp, demonstrating that blue whales can locate and feed on dense swarms of other types of prey when they occur. Within the Indian Ocean sergestids are present within the top 300 m, which correlates with the deep scattering layer observed by hydroacoustics. Studies suggest that this requirement to dive deeper in search of prey likely explains the prevalence of fluke up diving within this population of blue whales relative to other parts of the globe. Furthermore, this study revealed the presence of acanthocephalan endoparasites within the stomach and intestines of the Northern Indian Ocean blue whales. This represents the first record of Acanthocephala in blue whales in the Northern Indian Ocean and highlights the need for further studies on both the ecto- and endoparasitic flora and monitoring of health of these cetaceans for their management and conservation.
Cerchio, S.,Willson, A.,Muirhead, C.,Al Harthi, S.,Baldwin, R.,Bonato, M,Collins, T.,Di Clemente, J.,Dulau, Violaine,Estrade, Vanessa,Latha, G,Minton, A. Gianna.,Sarrouf Willson, M.
Geographic variation in song indicates both isolation of Arabian Sea humpback whales and presence of Southern Hemisphere whales off Oman Technical Report
no. 342, 2018, ISSN: IWC/SC67B/CMP19.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Humpback Whale, India, Indian Ocean, megaptera novaeangliae, Oman, population structure, Reunion, song
@techreport{,
title = {Geographic variation in song indicates both isolation of Arabian Sea humpback whales and presence of Southern Hemisphere whales off Oman},
author = {Cerchio, S.,Willson, A.,Muirhead, C.,Al Harthi, S.,Baldwin, R.,Bonato, M,Collins, T.,Di Clemente, J.,Dulau, Violaine,Estrade, Vanessa,Latha, G,Minton, A. Gianna.,Sarrouf Willson, M.},
url = {https://arabianseawhalenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/sc_67b_cmp_19_oman-humpback-whale-song-analysis-and-comparison-1.pdf},
issn = {IWC/SC67B/CMP19},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Document presented to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {342},
pages = {31},
publisher = {International Whaling Commission},
abstract = {Existing genetic, demographic and behavioral evidence indicates that Arabian Sea humpback whales
represent an isolated and unique population. The population exhibits a Northern Hemisphere breeding
cycle, is believed to feed year-round, and lacks the typical latitudinal migrations and seasonal separation
of breeding and feeding ecology exhibited by other populations of humpback whales globally. A key
feature of humpback whale breeding behavior is the male acoustic breeding display, song, studied
extensively around the world. Key characteristics of humpback whale song include: all males within a
population share the same song patterns (phrases); a population’s song changes progressively over time;
and populations that do not overlap or exchange individuals have distinctly different songs, whereas
populations in contact share some or all phrases. Here we use long-term acoustic monitoring off the coast
of Oman to further assess the isolation of the Arabian Sea population. A total of 76 samples (amounting
to 4,434 minutes of recording) of Arabian Sea song collected between 2011 and 2013 were examined, and
phrase content was characterized and compared to 23 samples (totaling 202 min of recording) collected
during the same years in the Southwest Indian Ocean from Reunion Island and the Comoros Islands. Song
from the Arabian Sea and the Southwest Indian Ocean was distinct across the entire study period, with no
evidence for shared phrases in any year. In addition, song fragments recorded off western India in 2011
were composed of two phrases present in the Oman song, suggesting continuity across the Arabian Sea.
Moreover, the Arabian Sea song exhibited a markedly atypical low level of temporal variation, with song
phrases remaining virtually unchanged during the three examined breeding seasons. Notably, Southwest
Indian Ocean song was recorded off the coast of Oman in August 2012 (Boreal summer, Austral winter).
This song was recorded on multiple days and included multiple simultaneous singers over a 25 day period
indicating the presence of more than a single accidental vagrant Southern Hemisphere animal. We suggest
that these Southern songs were produced by Southwest Indian Ocean animals moving into the Arabian
Sea, and that this may be more common than is currently thought. The low level of temporal variation
shown by the Arabian Sea males along with the lack of adoption of the Southwest Indian Ocean song
material, further indicate the uniqueness and distinct nature of this population. It seems possible that
isolation mechanisms exist that may inhibit the mixing of the Arabian Sea population with Southern
Hemisphere animals, and that this may be reflected in the observed atypical song behavior.},
keywords = {Humpback Whale, India, Indian Ocean, megaptera novaeangliae, Oman, population structure, Reunion, song},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Existing genetic, demographic and behavioral evidence indicates that Arabian Sea humpback whales
represent an isolated and unique population. The population exhibits a Northern Hemisphere breeding
cycle, is believed to feed year-round, and lacks the typical latitudinal migrations and seasonal separation
of breeding and feeding ecology exhibited by other populations of humpback whales globally. A key
feature of humpback whale breeding behavior is the male acoustic breeding display, song, studied
extensively around the world. Key characteristics of humpback whale song include: all males within a
population share the same song patterns (phrases); a population’s song changes progressively over time;
and populations that do not overlap or exchange individuals have distinctly different songs, whereas
populations in contact share some or all phrases. Here we use long-term acoustic monitoring off the coast
of Oman to further assess the isolation of the Arabian Sea population. A total of 76 samples (amounting
to 4,434 minutes of recording) of Arabian Sea song collected between 2011 and 2013 were examined, and
phrase content was characterized and compared to 23 samples (totaling 202 min of recording) collected
during the same years in the Southwest Indian Ocean from Reunion Island and the Comoros Islands. Song
from the Arabian Sea and the Southwest Indian Ocean was distinct across the entire study period, with no
evidence for shared phrases in any year. In addition, song fragments recorded off western India in 2011
were composed of two phrases present in the Oman song, suggesting continuity across the Arabian Sea.
Moreover, the Arabian Sea song exhibited a markedly atypical low level of temporal variation, with song
phrases remaining virtually unchanged during the three examined breeding seasons. Notably, Southwest
Indian Ocean song was recorded off the coast of Oman in August 2012 (Boreal summer, Austral winter).
This song was recorded on multiple days and included multiple simultaneous singers over a 25 day period
indicating the presence of more than a single accidental vagrant Southern Hemisphere animal. We suggest
that these Southern songs were produced by Southwest Indian Ocean animals moving into the Arabian
Sea, and that this may be more common than is currently thought. The low level of temporal variation
shown by the Arabian Sea males along with the lack of adoption of the Southwest Indian Ocean song
material, further indicate the uniqueness and distinct nature of this population. It seems possible that
isolation mechanisms exist that may inhibit the mixing of the Arabian Sea population with Southern
Hemisphere animals, and that this may be reflected in the observed atypical song behavior.
represent an isolated and unique population. The population exhibits a Northern Hemisphere breeding
cycle, is believed to feed year-round, and lacks the typical latitudinal migrations and seasonal separation
of breeding and feeding ecology exhibited by other populations of humpback whales globally. A key
feature of humpback whale breeding behavior is the male acoustic breeding display, song, studied
extensively around the world. Key characteristics of humpback whale song include: all males within a
population share the same song patterns (phrases); a population’s song changes progressively over time;
and populations that do not overlap or exchange individuals have distinctly different songs, whereas
populations in contact share some or all phrases. Here we use long-term acoustic monitoring off the coast
of Oman to further assess the isolation of the Arabian Sea population. A total of 76 samples (amounting
to 4,434 minutes of recording) of Arabian Sea song collected between 2011 and 2013 were examined, and
phrase content was characterized and compared to 23 samples (totaling 202 min of recording) collected
during the same years in the Southwest Indian Ocean from Reunion Island and the Comoros Islands. Song
from the Arabian Sea and the Southwest Indian Ocean was distinct across the entire study period, with no
evidence for shared phrases in any year. In addition, song fragments recorded off western India in 2011
were composed of two phrases present in the Oman song, suggesting continuity across the Arabian Sea.
Moreover, the Arabian Sea song exhibited a markedly atypical low level of temporal variation, with song
phrases remaining virtually unchanged during the three examined breeding seasons. Notably, Southwest
Indian Ocean song was recorded off the coast of Oman in August 2012 (Boreal summer, Austral winter).
This song was recorded on multiple days and included multiple simultaneous singers over a 25 day period
indicating the presence of more than a single accidental vagrant Southern Hemisphere animal. We suggest
that these Southern songs were produced by Southwest Indian Ocean animals moving into the Arabian
Sea, and that this may be more common than is currently thought. The low level of temporal variation
shown by the Arabian Sea males along with the lack of adoption of the Southwest Indian Ocean song
material, further indicate the uniqueness and distinct nature of this population. It seems possible that
isolation mechanisms exist that may inhibit the mixing of the Arabian Sea population with Southern
Hemisphere animals, and that this may be reflected in the observed atypical song behavior.
Bopardikar, Isha,Sutaria, Dipani,Sule, Mihir,Jog, Ketki,Patankar, Vardhan,Klinck, Holger
Description and classification of Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) whistles recorded off the Sindhudurg coast of Maharashtra, India Journal Article
In: Marine Mammal Science, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 755-776, 2018, ISSN: 1748-7692.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, humpback dolphin, India, passive acoustic monitoring, sousa, Sousa plumbea, vocalization, Whistle, whistles
@article{,
title = {Description and classification of Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) whistles recorded off the Sindhudurg coast of Maharashtra, India},
author = {Bopardikar, Isha,Sutaria, Dipani,Sule, Mihir,Jog, Ketki,Patankar, Vardhan,Klinck, Holger},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.12479},
issn = {1748-7692},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Marine Mammal Science},
volume = {34},
number = {3},
pages = {755-776},
abstract = {The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea), a common cetacean species in India, has a diverse vocal repertoire, which to date has not been described in detail. This study focused on analyzing their whistle vocalizations. Humpback dolphins were recorded off the Sindhudurg coast of Maharashtra, India, and 2,260 whistles were analyzed for their acoustic characteristics. Whistles spanned a wide frequency range between 2.3 kHz and 33.0 kHz, with durations ranging from 0.01 s to 1.60 s. Whistles were categorized into seven contour classes based on their qualitative properties. A classification and regression tree (CART) analysis was used to quantify variability between the seven contour classes using the measured acoustic features. Based on the CART analysis, frequency gradient, minimum slope, maximum slope, beginning and ending slope accounted for most variability between whistle types. CART resulted in an overall classification accuracy of 89.5%. This study provides a detailed description of acoustic features and qualitative properties of humpback dolphin whistles from the northwestern coast of India. Further comparisons of acoustic data from Sousa populations along the Indian coast are necessary to determine possible geographic variations in whistle characteristics and whether the variations are driven by environmental or genetic factors or a combination of both.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, humpback dolphin, India, passive acoustic monitoring, sousa, Sousa plumbea, vocalization, Whistle, whistles},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea), a common cetacean species in India, has a diverse vocal repertoire, which to date has not been described in detail. This study focused on analyzing their whistle vocalizations. Humpback dolphins were recorded off the Sindhudurg coast of Maharashtra, India, and 2,260 whistles were analyzed for their acoustic characteristics. Whistles spanned a wide frequency range between 2.3 kHz and 33.0 kHz, with durations ranging from 0.01 s to 1.60 s. Whistles were categorized into seven contour classes based on their qualitative properties. A classification and regression tree (CART) analysis was used to quantify variability between the seven contour classes using the measured acoustic features. Based on the CART analysis, frequency gradient, minimum slope, maximum slope, beginning and ending slope accounted for most variability between whistle types. CART resulted in an overall classification accuracy of 89.5%. This study provides a detailed description of acoustic features and qualitative properties of humpback dolphin whistles from the northwestern coast of India. Further comparisons of acoustic data from Sousa populations along the Indian coast are necessary to determine possible geographic variations in whistle characteristics and whether the variations are driven by environmental or genetic factors or a combination of both.
Baldwin, R.,Willson, A.,Looker, E.,Buzas, B.
Growing knowledge of cetacean fauna in the Emirate of Fujairah, UAE Journal Article
In: Tribulus, vol. 26, no. 313, 2018.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Distribution, Gulf of Oman, rough-toothed dolphin, stenella coeruleoalba, steno bredanensis, Striped dolphin, United Arab Emirates
@article{,
title = {Growing knowledge of cetacean fauna in the Emirate of Fujairah, UAE},
author = {Baldwin, R.,Willson, A.,Looker, E.,Buzas, B.},
url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360642888_Baldwin_R_Willson_A_Looker_E_Buzas_B_2018_Growing_knowledge_of_cetacean_fauna_in_the_Emirate_of_Fujairah_UAE_-_Tribulus_26_32-41
},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
urldate = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Tribulus},
volume = {26},
number = {313},
abstract = {Most records of cetaceans in the United Arab Emirates come from relatively few studies undertaken in Arabian Gulf
waters. However, recent study off the coast of Fujairah, in the Gulf of Oman, has revealed a rich diversity of cetaceans
with 11 or more species now known to occur in the emirate. Among them are three new records for the UAE, spotted,
striped and rough-toothed dolphins, as well as infrequently recorded large whales such as sperm, Bryde’s and blue
whales. Most species are primarily distributed in offshore waters over 500 m deep, though some species, such as the
Indo-Pacific common dolphin, also regularly occur closer to shore, including within the Port of Fujairah anchorage area.
Continuing research aims to investigate the population size, status and structure of cetaceans present in waters off
Fujairah using a variety of line transect, photographic, genetic and acoustic research techniques.},
keywords = {Distribution, Gulf of Oman, rough-toothed dolphin, stenella coeruleoalba, steno bredanensis, Striped dolphin, United Arab Emirates},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Most records of cetaceans in the United Arab Emirates come from relatively few studies undertaken in Arabian Gulf
waters. However, recent study off the coast of Fujairah, in the Gulf of Oman, has revealed a rich diversity of cetaceans
with 11 or more species now known to occur in the emirate. Among them are three new records for the UAE, spotted,
striped and rough-toothed dolphins, as well as infrequently recorded large whales such as sperm, Bryde’s and blue
whales. Most species are primarily distributed in offshore waters over 500 m deep, though some species, such as the
Indo-Pacific common dolphin, also regularly occur closer to shore, including within the Port of Fujairah anchorage area.
Continuing research aims to investigate the population size, status and structure of cetaceans present in waters off
Fujairah using a variety of line transect, photographic, genetic and acoustic research techniques.
waters. However, recent study off the coast of Fujairah, in the Gulf of Oman, has revealed a rich diversity of cetaceans
with 11 or more species now known to occur in the emirate. Among them are three new records for the UAE, spotted,
striped and rough-toothed dolphins, as well as infrequently recorded large whales such as sperm, Bryde’s and blue
whales. Most species are primarily distributed in offshore waters over 500 m deep, though some species, such as the
Indo-Pacific common dolphin, also regularly occur closer to shore, including within the Port of Fujairah anchorage area.
Continuing research aims to investigate the population size, status and structure of cetaceans present in waters off
Fujairah using a variety of line transect, photographic, genetic and acoustic research techniques.
Willson, A.,Baldwin, R.,Collins, T.,Godley, B.J.,Minton, G.,Al Harthi, S.,Pikesley, Stephen K,Witt, Matthew J
Preliminary ensemble ecological niche modelling of Arabian Sea humpback whale vessel sightings and satellite telemetry data Technical Report
no. 502, 2017, ISBN: SC/67A/CMP/15.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, ensemble niche modeling, habitat modelling, habitat preference, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Persian Gulf, Satellite telemetry
@techreport{,
title = {Preliminary ensemble ecological niche modelling of Arabian Sea humpback whale vessel sightings and satellite telemetry data},
author = {Willson, A.,Baldwin, R.,Collins, T.,Godley, B.J.,Minton, G.,Al Harthi, S.,Pikesley, Stephen K,Witt, Matthew J},
issn = { SC/67A/CMP/15},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Document presented to the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {502},
pages = {17},
abstract = {Ensemble ecological niche modelling (EENM) can provide insight into the relationship between marine mammals and
their environment and can predict distribution beyond the range of observed locations. The technique can be used to
identify sites for future field research and guide conservation and management activities. The spatial ecology of Arabian
Sea humpback whales (ASHWs) has been described off the coast of Oman, although a paucity of information exists
from which to describe their distribution across the rest of their potential range. Here we present an ensemble ecological
niche modelling framework to predict habitat suitability of ASHWs across the north Indian Ocean. Sightings data from
Oman-based small vessel surveys (2003-2014) and satellite telemetry records (2014-2016) were used along with
environmental co-variate data from a season between December and May. Net primary productivity featured as the only
co-variate with a strong influence on models for both datasets. Model test evaluation metrics scored >0.9, and mapped
outputs of likely distribution highlighted spatial similarity across multiple models. Telemetry data predicted suitable
habitat to be further offshore than the models derived from sightings data. All resulting distribution maps described
areas of high suitability (index value <0.75) along the southern and central coast of Oman and of the northern Arabian
Sea between the Gulf of Kutch and sub-marine canyon features off the Indus delta. There was good spatial concordance
between ensemble model predictions with actual locations of Soviet catches of humpback whales in the northern Indian
Ocean between 1964 and 1966. Both the telemetry and the sightings data were temporally sporadic in their coverage
(across months) and biologically biased (towards males) and as such results from our preliminary efforts should be
considered in light of these caveats. However, these preliminary results are valuable and indicate likely co-occurrence
with high density shipping traffic routes in the region and target additional areas for focussed field surveys. Results
from this study should be considered together with results of recent north Indian Ocean blue whale ENM studies to help
guide future research and conservation management objectives in the region.},
keywords = {Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, ensemble niche modeling, habitat modelling, habitat preference, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Persian Gulf, Satellite telemetry},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Ensemble ecological niche modelling (EENM) can provide insight into the relationship between marine mammals and
their environment and can predict distribution beyond the range of observed locations. The technique can be used to
identify sites for future field research and guide conservation and management activities. The spatial ecology of Arabian
Sea humpback whales (ASHWs) has been described off the coast of Oman, although a paucity of information exists
from which to describe their distribution across the rest of their potential range. Here we present an ensemble ecological
niche modelling framework to predict habitat suitability of ASHWs across the north Indian Ocean. Sightings data from
Oman-based small vessel surveys (2003-2014) and satellite telemetry records (2014-2016) were used along with
environmental co-variate data from a season between December and May. Net primary productivity featured as the only
co-variate with a strong influence on models for both datasets. Model test evaluation metrics scored >0.9, and mapped
outputs of likely distribution highlighted spatial similarity across multiple models. Telemetry data predicted suitable
habitat to be further offshore than the models derived from sightings data. All resulting distribution maps described
areas of high suitability (index value <0.75) along the southern and central coast of Oman and of the northern Arabian
Sea between the Gulf of Kutch and sub-marine canyon features off the Indus delta. There was good spatial concordance
between ensemble model predictions with actual locations of Soviet catches of humpback whales in the northern Indian
Ocean between 1964 and 1966. Both the telemetry and the sightings data were temporally sporadic in their coverage
(across months) and biologically biased (towards males) and as such results from our preliminary efforts should be
considered in light of these caveats. However, these preliminary results are valuable and indicate likely co-occurrence
with high density shipping traffic routes in the region and target additional areas for focussed field surveys. Results
from this study should be considered together with results of recent north Indian Ocean blue whale ENM studies to help
guide future research and conservation management objectives in the region.
their environment and can predict distribution beyond the range of observed locations. The technique can be used to
identify sites for future field research and guide conservation and management activities. The spatial ecology of Arabian
Sea humpback whales (ASHWs) has been described off the coast of Oman, although a paucity of information exists
from which to describe their distribution across the rest of their potential range. Here we present an ensemble ecological
niche modelling framework to predict habitat suitability of ASHWs across the north Indian Ocean. Sightings data from
Oman-based small vessel surveys (2003-2014) and satellite telemetry records (2014-2016) were used along with
environmental co-variate data from a season between December and May. Net primary productivity featured as the only
co-variate with a strong influence on models for both datasets. Model test evaluation metrics scored >0.9, and mapped
outputs of likely distribution highlighted spatial similarity across multiple models. Telemetry data predicted suitable
habitat to be further offshore than the models derived from sightings data. All resulting distribution maps described
areas of high suitability (index value <0.75) along the southern and central coast of Oman and of the northern Arabian
Sea between the Gulf of Kutch and sub-marine canyon features off the Indus delta. There was good spatial concordance
between ensemble model predictions with actual locations of Soviet catches of humpback whales in the northern Indian
Ocean between 1964 and 1966. Both the telemetry and the sightings data were temporally sporadic in their coverage
(across months) and biologically biased (towards males) and as such results from our preliminary efforts should be
considered in light of these caveats. However, these preliminary results are valuable and indicate likely co-occurrence
with high density shipping traffic routes in the region and target additional areas for focussed field surveys. Results
from this study should be considered together with results of recent north Indian Ocean blue whale ENM studies to help
guide future research and conservation management objectives in the region.
Sutaria, D.,Sule, M.,Jog, K.,Bopardikar, I.,Jamalabad, A.,Panicker, D.
Baleen Whale Records from India Technical Report
no. 241, 2017, ISBN: SC/67A/CMP/03_Rev.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: acoustics, Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale, Bryde's whale, Entanglement, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Persian Gulf, ship strike, song, stranding
@techreport{,
title = {Baleen Whale Records from India},
author = {Sutaria, D.,Sule, M.,Jog, K.,Bopardikar, I.,Jamalabad, A.,Panicker, D.},
issn = { SC/67A/CMP/03_Rev},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Document presented to the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {241},
pages = {16},
abstract = {The current presence of three baleen whale species, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Bryde’s
whale (Balaenoptera edeni) and the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) was assessed along
the Indian coastline via sighting and stranding records. The available literature was reviewed to
understand the frequency and distribution of stranding events along the coastline. Fisherfolk were
interviewed to obtain information on baleen whale sightings and community perceptions towards
whales. We found that blue and Bryde’s whales are recorded from both the east and west coasts and
humpback whales from the west coast only. During 2015-2016, the majority of strandings were
reported from Maharashtra and Karnataka. In March 2017, at least one humpback whale sighting was
confirmed from recorded vocalisations off the Goa coast. An investigation of the ongoing fisheries has
also revealed a steep decline in commercial fisheries and an 82% decline in the Sardines in 2015-16.
With this scenario in mind, we recommend continuation of dedicated baleen whale surveys and
collaborative efforts with local regional authorities to carry out in-depth analyses of strandings and
document the ecology of whales in Indian waters.},
keywords = {acoustics, Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale, Bryde's whale, Entanglement, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Persian Gulf, ship strike, song, stranding},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
The current presence of three baleen whale species, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Bryde’s
whale (Balaenoptera edeni) and the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) was assessed along
the Indian coastline via sighting and stranding records. The available literature was reviewed to
understand the frequency and distribution of stranding events along the coastline. Fisherfolk were
interviewed to obtain information on baleen whale sightings and community perceptions towards
whales. We found that blue and Bryde’s whales are recorded from both the east and west coasts and
humpback whales from the west coast only. During 2015-2016, the majority of strandings were
reported from Maharashtra and Karnataka. In March 2017, at least one humpback whale sighting was
confirmed from recorded vocalisations off the Goa coast. An investigation of the ongoing fisheries has
also revealed a steep decline in commercial fisheries and an 82% decline in the Sardines in 2015-16.
With this scenario in mind, we recommend continuation of dedicated baleen whale surveys and
collaborative efforts with local regional authorities to carry out in-depth analyses of strandings and
document the ecology of whales in Indian waters.
whale (Balaenoptera edeni) and the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) was assessed along
the Indian coastline via sighting and stranding records. The available literature was reviewed to
understand the frequency and distribution of stranding events along the coastline. Fisherfolk were
interviewed to obtain information on baleen whale sightings and community perceptions towards
whales. We found that blue and Bryde’s whales are recorded from both the east and west coasts and
humpback whales from the west coast only. During 2015-2016, the majority of strandings were
reported from Maharashtra and Karnataka. In March 2017, at least one humpback whale sighting was
confirmed from recorded vocalisations off the Goa coast. An investigation of the ongoing fisheries has
also revealed a steep decline in commercial fisheries and an 82% decline in the Sardines in 2015-16.
With this scenario in mind, we recommend continuation of dedicated baleen whale surveys and
collaborative efforts with local regional authorities to carry out in-depth analyses of strandings and
document the ecology of whales in Indian waters.
Rosenbaum, H. C.,Kershaw, F.,Mendez, M.,Pomilla, C.,Leslie, M. S.,Findlay, K. P.,Best, P. B.,Collins, T.,Vely, M.,Engel, M. H.,Baldwin, R.,Minton, G.,Meÿer, M.,Flórez-González, L.,Poole, M. M.,Hauser, N.,Garrigue, C.,Brasseur, M.,Bannister, J.,Anderson, M.,Olavarría, C.,Baker, C. S.
First circumglobal assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whale mitochondrial genetic variation and implications for management Journal Article
In: Endangered Species Research, vol. 32, no. 213, pp. 551-567, 2017.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, breeding grounds, Genetic differentiation, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, mtDNA, population structure, Stock assessment
@article{,
title = {First circumglobal assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whale mitochondrial genetic variation and implications for management},
author = {Rosenbaum, H. C.,Kershaw, F.,Mendez, M.,Pomilla, C.,Leslie, M. S.,Findlay, K. P.,Best, P. B.,Collins, T.,Vely, M.,Engel, M. H.,Baldwin, R.,Minton, G.,Meÿer, M.,Flórez-González, L.,Poole, M. M.,Hauser, N.,Garrigue, C.,Brasseur, M.,Bannister, J.,Anderson, M.,Olavarría, C.,Baker, C. S.},
url = {http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v32/p551-567/},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Endangered Species Research},
volume = {32},
number = {213},
pages = {551-567},
abstract = {ABSTRACT: The description of genetic population structure over a species geographic range can provide insights into its evolutionary history and also support effective management efforts. Assessments for globally distributed species are rare, however, requiring significant international coordination and collaboration. The global distribution of demographically discrete populations for the humpback whale \textit{Megaptera novaeangliae} is not fully known, hampering the definition of appropriate management units. Here, we present the first circumglobal assessment of mitochondrial genetic population structure across the species range in the Southern Hemisphere and Arabian Sea. We combine new and existing data from the mitochondrial (mt)DNA control region that resulted in a 311 bp consensus sequence of the mtDNA control region for 3009 individuals sampled across 14 breeding stocks and subpopulations currently recognized by the International Whaling Commission. We assess genetic diversity and test for genetic differentiation and also estimate the magnitude and directionality of historic matrilineal gene flow between putative populations. Our results indicate that maternally directed site fidelity drives significant genetic population structure between breeding stocks within ocean basins. However, patterns of connectivity differ across the circumpolar range, possibly as a result of differences in the extent of longitudinal movements on feeding areas. The number of population comparisons observed to be significantly differentiated were found to diminish at the subpopulation scale when nucleotide differences were examined, indicating that more complex processes underlie genetic structure at this scale. It is crucial that these complexities and uncertainties are afforded greater consideration in management and regulatory efforts.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, breeding grounds, Genetic differentiation, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, mtDNA, population structure, Stock assessment},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
ABSTRACT: The description of genetic population structure over a species geographic range can provide insights into its evolutionary history and also support effective management efforts. Assessments for globally distributed species are rare, however, requiring significant international coordination and collaboration. The global distribution of demographically discrete populations for the humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae is not fully known, hampering the definition of appropriate management units. Here, we present the first circumglobal assessment of mitochondrial genetic population structure across the species range in the Southern Hemisphere and Arabian Sea. We combine new and existing data from the mitochondrial (mt)DNA control region that resulted in a 311 bp consensus sequence of the mtDNA control region for 3009 individuals sampled across 14 breeding stocks and subpopulations currently recognized by the International Whaling Commission. We assess genetic diversity and test for genetic differentiation and also estimate the magnitude and directionality of historic matrilineal gene flow between putative populations. Our results indicate that maternally directed site fidelity drives significant genetic population structure between breeding stocks within ocean basins. However, patterns of connectivity differ across the circumpolar range, possibly as a result of differences in the extent of longitudinal movements on feeding areas. The number of population comparisons observed to be significantly differentiated were found to diminish at the subpopulation scale when nucleotide differences were examined, indicating that more complex processes underlie genetic structure at this scale. It is crucial that these complexities and uncertainties are afforded greater consideration in management and regulatory efforts.
Robinson, David P.,Jaidah, Mohammed Y.,Bach, Steffen S.,Rohner, Christoph A.,Jabado, Rima W.,Ormond, Rupert,Pierce, Simon J.
Some like it hot: Repeat migration and residency of whale sharks within an extreme natural environment Journal Article
In: PLOS ONE, vol. 12, no. 446, pp. e0185360, 2017.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, habitat use, rhinccodon typus, Satellite telemetry, Sea of Oman, whale sharks
@article{,
title = {Some like it hot: Repeat migration and residency of whale sharks within an extreme natural environment},
author = {Robinson, David P.,Jaidah, Mohammed Y.,Bach, Steffen S.,Rohner, Christoph A.,Jabado, Rima W.,Ormond, Rupert,Pierce, Simon J.},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185360},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {PLOS ONE},
volume = {12},
number = {446},
pages = {e0185360},
publisher = {Public Library of Science},
abstract = {The Arabian Gulf is the warmest sea in the world and is host to a globally significant population of the whale shark Rhincodon typus. To investigate regional whale shark behaviour and movements, 59 satellite-linked tags were deployed on whale sharks in the Al Shaheen area off Qatar from 2011–14. Four different models of tag were used throughout the study, each model able to collect differing data or quantities of data. Retention varied from one to 227 days. While all tagged sharks crossed international maritime boundaries, they typically stayed within the Arabian Gulf. Only nine sharks dispersed through the narrow Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman. Most sharks stayed close to known or suspected feeding aggregation sites over summer months, but dispersed throughout the Arabian Gulf in winter. Sharks rarely ventured into shallow areas (<40 m depth). A single, presumably pregnant female shark was the sole animal to disperse a long distance, crossing five international maritime boundaries in 37 days before the tag detached at a distance of approximately 2644 km from the tagging site, close to the Yemeni-Somali border. No clear space-use differentiation was evident between years, for sharks of different sizes, or between sexes. Whale sharks spent the most time (~66%) in temperatures of 24–30°C and in shallow waters <100 m depth (~60%). Sharks spent relatively more time in cooler (X2 = 121.692; p<0.05) and deeper (X2 = 46.402; p<0.05) water at night. Sharks rarely made dives deeper than 100 m, reflecting the bathymetric constraints of the Gulf environment. Kernel density analysis demonstrated that the tagging site at Al Shaheen was the regional hotspot for these sharks, and revealed a probable secondary aggregation site for whale sharks in nearby Saudi Arabian waters. Analysis of visual re-sightings data of tagged sharks revealed that 58% of tagged individuals were re-sighted back in Al Shaheen over the course of this study, with 40% recorded back at Al Shaheen in the year following their initial identification. Two sharks were confirmed to return to Al Shaheen in each of the five years of study.},
keywords = {Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, habitat use, rhinccodon typus, Satellite telemetry, Sea of Oman, whale sharks},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The Arabian Gulf is the warmest sea in the world and is host to a globally significant population of the whale shark Rhincodon typus. To investigate regional whale shark behaviour and movements, 59 satellite-linked tags were deployed on whale sharks in the Al Shaheen area off Qatar from 2011–14. Four different models of tag were used throughout the study, each model able to collect differing data or quantities of data. Retention varied from one to 227 days. While all tagged sharks crossed international maritime boundaries, they typically stayed within the Arabian Gulf. Only nine sharks dispersed through the narrow Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman. Most sharks stayed close to known or suspected feeding aggregation sites over summer months, but dispersed throughout the Arabian Gulf in winter. Sharks rarely ventured into shallow areas (<40 m depth). A single, presumably pregnant female shark was the sole animal to disperse a long distance, crossing five international maritime boundaries in 37 days before the tag detached at a distance of approximately 2644 km from the tagging site, close to the Yemeni-Somali border. No clear space-use differentiation was evident between years, for sharks of different sizes, or between sexes. Whale sharks spent the most time (~66%) in temperatures of 24–30°C and in shallow waters <100 m depth (~60%). Sharks spent relatively more time in cooler (X2 = 121.692; p<0.05) and deeper (X2 = 46.402; p<0.05) water at night. Sharks rarely made dives deeper than 100 m, reflecting the bathymetric constraints of the Gulf environment. Kernel density analysis demonstrated that the tagging site at Al Shaheen was the regional hotspot for these sharks, and revealed a probable secondary aggregation site for whale sharks in nearby Saudi Arabian waters. Analysis of visual re-sightings data of tagged sharks revealed that 58% of tagged individuals were re-sighted back in Al Shaheen over the course of this study, with 40% recorded back at Al Shaheen in the year following their initial identification. Two sharks were confirmed to return to Al Shaheen in each of the five years of study.
Notarbartolo di Sciara, G,Kerem, D.,Smeenk, C.
Cetaceans of the Red Sea Technical Report
no. 185, 2017.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, cetaceans, Distribution, Egypt, occurrence, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
@techreport{,
title = {Cetaceans of the Red Sea},
author = {Notarbartolo di Sciara, G,Kerem, D.,Smeenk, C.},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {CMS Technical series 33},
volume = {33},
number = {185},
pages = {86},
publisher = {Convention on Migratory Species},
abstract = {Based on a review of the literature, complemented by original observations at sea made by the authors during the
past 34 years, the cetacean fauna in the Red Sea appears to be composed of a total of 16 species: three Mysticetes
(Bryde’s whale, Balaenoptera edeni; Omura’s whale, B. omurai; and humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae) and
13 Odontocetes (dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima; killer whale, Orcinus orca; false killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens;
short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus; Risso’s dolphin, Grampus griseus; Indian Ocean humpback
dolphin, Sousa plumbea; rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis; Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops
aduncus; common bottlenose dolphin, T. truncatus; pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata; spinner dolphin,
S. longirostris; striped dolphin, S. coeruleoalba; Indo-Pacific common dolphin, Delphinus delphis tropicalis).
This review presents the very first documented and confirmed sightings of B. omurai, K. sima and S. bredanensis
in the Red Sea. Of all the above species, however, only nine (Bryde’s whale, false killer whale, Risso’s dolphin, Indian
Ocean humpback dolphin, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, common bottlenose dolphin, pantropical spotted dolphin,
spinner dolphin, and Indo-Pacific common dolphin) appeared to occur regularly in the Red Sea, the remaining seven
only occurring sporadically as vagrants from the Indian Ocean. Even regular species appeared not to be uniformly
distributed throughout the Red Sea, e.g., with Indo-Pacific common dolphins mostly limited to the southern portion
of the region, and the Gulf of Suez only hosting the two bottlenose dolphin species and Indian Ocean humpback
dolphins. No convincing evidence was found of the Red Sea occurrence of two whale species mentioned in the
literature: the common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata, and the sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus.
The absence from the region of deep diving species (e.g., Ziphiidae and the sperm whale) can be explained by the
geomorphology of the Straits of Bab al Mandab, with its extended shallow sill likely to discourage incursions by
such species into the Red Sea. The coordinated effort and the different expertise of the authors has contributed to
amending previous mistakes and inaccuracies, verifying and validating specimen identification, highlighting features
of relevance for species taxonomy and, most importantly, drawing a fundamental baseline to inform conservation of
cetaceans in the Red Sea},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, cetaceans, Distribution, Egypt, occurrence, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Based on a review of the literature, complemented by original observations at sea made by the authors during the
past 34 years, the cetacean fauna in the Red Sea appears to be composed of a total of 16 species: three Mysticetes
(Bryde’s whale, Balaenoptera edeni; Omura’s whale, B. omurai; and humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae) and
13 Odontocetes (dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima; killer whale, Orcinus orca; false killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens;
short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus; Risso’s dolphin, Grampus griseus; Indian Ocean humpback
dolphin, Sousa plumbea; rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis; Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops
aduncus; common bottlenose dolphin, T. truncatus; pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata; spinner dolphin,
S. longirostris; striped dolphin, S. coeruleoalba; Indo-Pacific common dolphin, Delphinus delphis tropicalis).
This review presents the very first documented and confirmed sightings of B. omurai, K. sima and S. bredanensis
in the Red Sea. Of all the above species, however, only nine (Bryde’s whale, false killer whale, Risso’s dolphin, Indian
Ocean humpback dolphin, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, common bottlenose dolphin, pantropical spotted dolphin,
spinner dolphin, and Indo-Pacific common dolphin) appeared to occur regularly in the Red Sea, the remaining seven
only occurring sporadically as vagrants from the Indian Ocean. Even regular species appeared not to be uniformly
distributed throughout the Red Sea, e.g., with Indo-Pacific common dolphins mostly limited to the southern portion
of the region, and the Gulf of Suez only hosting the two bottlenose dolphin species and Indian Ocean humpback
dolphins. No convincing evidence was found of the Red Sea occurrence of two whale species mentioned in the
literature: the common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata, and the sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus.
The absence from the region of deep diving species (e.g., Ziphiidae and the sperm whale) can be explained by the
geomorphology of the Straits of Bab al Mandab, with its extended shallow sill likely to discourage incursions by
such species into the Red Sea. The coordinated effort and the different expertise of the authors has contributed to
amending previous mistakes and inaccuracies, verifying and validating specimen identification, highlighting features
of relevance for species taxonomy and, most importantly, drawing a fundamental baseline to inform conservation of
cetaceans in the Red Sea
past 34 years, the cetacean fauna in the Red Sea appears to be composed of a total of 16 species: three Mysticetes
(Bryde’s whale, Balaenoptera edeni; Omura’s whale, B. omurai; and humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae) and
13 Odontocetes (dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima; killer whale, Orcinus orca; false killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens;
short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus; Risso’s dolphin, Grampus griseus; Indian Ocean humpback
dolphin, Sousa plumbea; rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis; Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops
aduncus; common bottlenose dolphin, T. truncatus; pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata; spinner dolphin,
S. longirostris; striped dolphin, S. coeruleoalba; Indo-Pacific common dolphin, Delphinus delphis tropicalis).
This review presents the very first documented and confirmed sightings of B. omurai, K. sima and S. bredanensis
in the Red Sea. Of all the above species, however, only nine (Bryde’s whale, false killer whale, Risso’s dolphin, Indian
Ocean humpback dolphin, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, common bottlenose dolphin, pantropical spotted dolphin,
spinner dolphin, and Indo-Pacific common dolphin) appeared to occur regularly in the Red Sea, the remaining seven
only occurring sporadically as vagrants from the Indian Ocean. Even regular species appeared not to be uniformly
distributed throughout the Red Sea, e.g., with Indo-Pacific common dolphins mostly limited to the southern portion
of the region, and the Gulf of Suez only hosting the two bottlenose dolphin species and Indian Ocean humpback
dolphins. No convincing evidence was found of the Red Sea occurrence of two whale species mentioned in the
literature: the common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata, and the sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus.
The absence from the region of deep diving species (e.g., Ziphiidae and the sperm whale) can be explained by the
geomorphology of the Straits of Bab al Mandab, with its extended shallow sill likely to discourage incursions by
such species into the Red Sea. The coordinated effort and the different expertise of the authors has contributed to
amending previous mistakes and inaccuracies, verifying and validating specimen identification, highlighting features
of relevance for species taxonomy and, most importantly, drawing a fundamental baseline to inform conservation of
cetaceans in the Red Sea
Nanayakkara, Ranil P.,Jefferson, Thomas A.,Abayaratne, Sandaruwan
First records of the Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise Journal Article
In: Journal of Threatened Taxa, vol. 9, no. 181, pp. 11081-11084, 2017.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Finless Porpoise, Neophocaena phocaenoides, Sri Lanka, stranding
@article{,
title = {First records of the Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise },
author = {Nanayakkara, Ranil P.,Jefferson, Thomas A.,Abayaratne, Sandaruwan},
url = {https://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/1811},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Threatened Taxa},
volume = {9},
number = {181},
pages = {11081-11084},
abstract = {Thirty species of marine mammals have been recorded from Sri Lanka. Amongst them the Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise Neophocaena phocaenoides is the only representative of the family Phocoenidae. The only previous record from Sri Lanka was a specimen caught on the Wadge Bank by a Smithsonian Carangid Survey team in 1970. Wadge Bank is west of the island and is, in fact, in Indian territorial waters. Here we present the first legitimate records of the Finless Porpoise from Sri Lanka, based on one stranding and three live sightings. Furthermore, the occurrence of threatened species such as the Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise in the waters of the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar indicates that a cross boundary research initiative between Indian and Sri Lankan scientists, simultaneously focusing on the conservation of the species, is essential. We believe, through such an initiative, a more holistic approach could be adopted when studying and conserving the species, which could then be expanded to encapsulate many other marine species and ecosystems. },
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Finless Porpoise, Neophocaena phocaenoides, Sri Lanka, stranding},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Thirty species of marine mammals have been recorded from Sri Lanka. Amongst them the Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise Neophocaena phocaenoides is the only representative of the family Phocoenidae. The only previous record from Sri Lanka was a specimen caught on the Wadge Bank by a Smithsonian Carangid Survey team in 1970. Wadge Bank is west of the island and is, in fact, in Indian territorial waters. Here we present the first legitimate records of the Finless Porpoise from Sri Lanka, based on one stranding and three live sightings. Furthermore, the occurrence of threatened species such as the Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise in the waters of the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar indicates that a cross boundary research initiative between Indian and Sri Lankan scientists, simultaneously focusing on the conservation of the species, is essential. We believe, through such an initiative, a more holistic approach could be adopted when studying and conserving the species, which could then be expanded to encapsulate many other marine species and ecosystems.Â
Moazzam, Mohammed,Nawaz, Rab
Arabian Humpback and Baleen Whale sightings along the Pakistan Coast: Information Generated Through WWF Pakistan’s Fishing Crew Observer Programme Technical Report
no. 168, 2017, ISBN: SC/67A/CMP/05.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, Bryde's whale, Bycatch, Entanglement, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Observer programmes, Pakistan
@techreport{,
title = {Arabian Humpback and Baleen Whale sightings along the Pakistan Coast: Information Generated Through WWF Pakistan’s Fishing Crew Observer Programme},
author = {Moazzam, Mohammed,Nawaz, Rab},
issn = { SC/67A/CMP/05},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Document presented to the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {168},
pages = {16},
abstract = {Historical records and Soviet whaling data indicate the presence of baleen whales off the coast of
Pakistan up to 1965, but since then only a handful of strandings and opportunistic sightings
confirm their ongoing presence in the region. Between 2012 and 2016, observations of freeswimming
and entangled whales were recorded by fishing vessel crew members trained under a
bycatch observer scheme coordinated by WWF Pakistan. The scheme, which started with two
observers in 2012, now involves 75 participating vessels. Reported baleen whale observations
increased from none in 2012, to 16 in 2015. In 2016, 47 sightings of baleen whales were
recorded, including 12 confirmed sightings of Arabian Sea humpback whales, three sightings of
Bryde’s and 32 sightings of baleen whales that could not be identified to species level due to lack
of adequate photographic or video evidence. Sightings reported from 2012 through 2016 are
summarized and plotted, providing insight into the current distribution of Arabian Sea humpback
whales and other baleen whale species in the region. The authors recommend the continuation of
the programme, and suggest that it could serve as a useful model for crew-based reporting
schemes in a region where dedicated cetacean surveys are difficult to conduct, but fisheries are
widespread and active.},
keywords = {Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, Bryde's whale, Bycatch, Entanglement, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Observer programmes, Pakistan},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Historical records and Soviet whaling data indicate the presence of baleen whales off the coast of
Pakistan up to 1965, but since then only a handful of strandings and opportunistic sightings
confirm their ongoing presence in the region. Between 2012 and 2016, observations of freeswimming
and entangled whales were recorded by fishing vessel crew members trained under a
bycatch observer scheme coordinated by WWF Pakistan. The scheme, which started with two
observers in 2012, now involves 75 participating vessels. Reported baleen whale observations
increased from none in 2012, to 16 in 2015. In 2016, 47 sightings of baleen whales were
recorded, including 12 confirmed sightings of Arabian Sea humpback whales, three sightings of
Bryde’s and 32 sightings of baleen whales that could not be identified to species level due to lack
of adequate photographic or video evidence. Sightings reported from 2012 through 2016 are
summarized and plotted, providing insight into the current distribution of Arabian Sea humpback
whales and other baleen whale species in the region. The authors recommend the continuation of
the programme, and suggest that it could serve as a useful model for crew-based reporting
schemes in a region where dedicated cetacean surveys are difficult to conduct, but fisheries are
widespread and active.
Pakistan up to 1965, but since then only a handful of strandings and opportunistic sightings
confirm their ongoing presence in the region. Between 2012 and 2016, observations of freeswimming
and entangled whales were recorded by fishing vessel crew members trained under a
bycatch observer scheme coordinated by WWF Pakistan. The scheme, which started with two
observers in 2012, now involves 75 participating vessels. Reported baleen whale observations
increased from none in 2012, to 16 in 2015. In 2016, 47 sightings of baleen whales were
recorded, including 12 confirmed sightings of Arabian Sea humpback whales, three sightings of
Bryde’s and 32 sightings of baleen whales that could not be identified to species level due to lack
of adequate photographic or video evidence. Sightings reported from 2012 through 2016 are
summarized and plotted, providing insight into the current distribution of Arabian Sea humpback
whales and other baleen whale species in the region. The authors recommend the continuation of
the programme, and suggest that it could serve as a useful model for crew-based reporting
schemes in a region where dedicated cetacean surveys are difficult to conduct, but fisheries are
widespread and active.
Kershaw, Francine,Carvalho, Inês,Loo, Jacqueline,Pomilla, Cristina,Best, Peter B.,Findlay, Ken P.,Cerchio, Salvatore,Collins, Tim,Engel, Marcia H.,Minton, Gianna,Ersts, Peter,Barendse, Jaco,Kotze, P. G. H.,Razafindrakoto, Yvette,Ngouessono, Solange,Meÿer, Michael,Thorton, Meredith,Rosenbaum, Howard C.
Multiple processes drive genetic structure of humpback whale ( Journal Article
In: Molecular Ecology, no. 131, pp. n/a-n/a, 2017, ISBN: 1365-294X.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: behaviour, Humpback Whale, International Whaling Commission, megaptera novaeangliae, population assessment, population genetics, population identity, population structure, Southern Hemisphere, wildlife management
@article{,
title = {Multiple processes drive genetic structure of humpback whale (},
author = {Kershaw, Francine,Carvalho, Inês,Loo, Jacqueline,Pomilla, Cristina,Best, Peter B.,Findlay, Ken P.,Cerchio, Salvatore,Collins, Tim,Engel, Marcia H.,Minton, Gianna,Ersts, Peter,Barendse, Jaco,Kotze, P. G. H.,Razafindrakoto, Yvette,Ngouessono, Solange,Meÿer, Michael,Thorton, Meredith,Rosenbaum, Howard C.},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mec.13943},
issn = {1365-294X},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Molecular Ecology},
number = {131},
pages = {n/a-n/a},
abstract = {Elucidating patterns of population structure for species with complex life histories, and disentangling the processes driving such patterns, remains a significant analytical challenge. Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) populations display complex genetic structures that have not been fully resolved at all spatial scales. We generated a data set of nuclear markers for 3575 samples spanning the seven breeding stocks and substocks found in the South Atlantic and western and northern Indian Oceans. For the total sample, and males and females separately, we assessed genetic diversity, tested for genetic differentiation between putative populations and isolation by distance, estimated the number of genetic clusters without a priori population information and estimated rates of gene flow using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian approaches. At the ocean basin scale, structure is governed by geographical distance (IBD P < 0.05) and female fidelity to breeding areas, in line with current understanding of the drivers of broadscale population structure. Consistent with previous studies, the Arabian Sea breeding stock was highly genetically differentiated (FST 0.034–0.161; P < 0.01 for all comparisons). However, the breeding stock boundary between west South Africa and east Africa was more porous than expected based on genetic differentiation, cluster and geneflow analyses. Instances of male fidelity to breeding areas and relatively high rates of dispersal for females were also observed between the three substocks in the western Indian Ocean. The relationships between demographic units and current management boundaries may have ramifications for assessments of the status and continued protections of populations still in recovery from commercial whaling.},
keywords = {behaviour, Humpback Whale, International Whaling Commission, megaptera novaeangliae, population assessment, population genetics, population identity, population structure, Southern Hemisphere, wildlife management},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Elucidating patterns of population structure for species with complex life histories, and disentangling the processes driving such patterns, remains a significant analytical challenge. Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) populations display complex genetic structures that have not been fully resolved at all spatial scales. We generated a data set of nuclear markers for 3575 samples spanning the seven breeding stocks and substocks found in the South Atlantic and western and northern Indian Oceans. For the total sample, and males and females separately, we assessed genetic diversity, tested for genetic differentiation between putative populations and isolation by distance, estimated the number of genetic clusters without a priori population information and estimated rates of gene flow using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian approaches. At the ocean basin scale, structure is governed by geographical distance (IBD P < 0.05) and female fidelity to breeding areas, in line with current understanding of the drivers of broadscale population structure. Consistent with previous studies, the Arabian Sea breeding stock was highly genetically differentiated (FST 0.034–0.161; P < 0.01 for all comparisons). However, the breeding stock boundary between west South Africa and east Africa was more porous than expected based on genetic differentiation, cluster and geneflow analyses. Instances of male fidelity to breeding areas and relatively high rates of dispersal for females were also observed between the three substocks in the western Indian Ocean. The relationships between demographic units and current management boundaries may have ramifications for assessments of the status and continued protections of populations still in recovery from commercial whaling.
Jog, Ketki,Sule, Mihir,Bopardikar, Isha,Patankar, Vardhan,Sutaria, Dipani
Living with dolphins: Local ecological knowledge and perceptions of small cetaceans along the Sindhudurg coastline of Maharashtra, India Journal Article
In: Marine Mammal Science, vol. 34, no. 128, pp. 488-498, 2017, ISBN: 1748-7692.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Bycatch, cetacean-fisheries interactions, competition, Finless Porpoise, humpback dolphin, India, local ecological knowledge, Marine mammals, Neophocaena phocaenoides, perceptions, Sousa plumbea
@article{,
title = {Living with dolphins: Local ecological knowledge and perceptions of small cetaceans along the Sindhudurg coastline of Maharashtra, India},
author = {Jog, Ketki,Sule, Mihir,Bopardikar, Isha,Patankar, Vardhan,Sutaria, Dipani},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.12466},
issn = {1748-7692},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Marine Mammal Science},
volume = {34},
number = {128},
pages = {488-498},
abstract = {Two near shore small cetaceans occur commonly along the Maharashtra coast, the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin and Indo Pacific finless porpoise. These cetaceans frequently interact with fisheries in this region due to overlap in space and resource use. Besides stranding records, little ecological information is available about these species from Maharashtra. We conducted 143 semistructured interviews to document local ecological knowledge and community perceptions of small cetaceans in 30 coastal fishing villages in Sindhudurg. Perceptions of finless porpoises were largely neutral, whereas humpback dolphins were negative. A classification regression tree (CART) analysis (root node error: 60%) showed that the annual cost of gear damage was an important predictor variable of humpback dolphin perceptions, followed by occupation (gear type) and age. Entanglements were reported for both species in large and small gill nets, and shore seines. Perceived net damage and catch loss due to humpback dolphins was six times greater than that of finless porpoises. However, finless porpoises were reportedly more frequently entangled in gear than humpback dolphins. We provide an insight into the perceptions of cetaceans in the local community and the fisheries-cetacean interactions that shape them.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Bycatch, cetacean-fisheries interactions, competition, Finless Porpoise, humpback dolphin, India, local ecological knowledge, Marine mammals, Neophocaena phocaenoides, perceptions, Sousa plumbea},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Two near shore small cetaceans occur commonly along the Maharashtra coast, the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin and Indo Pacific finless porpoise. These cetaceans frequently interact with fisheries in this region due to overlap in space and resource use. Besides stranding records, little ecological information is available about these species from Maharashtra. We conducted 143 semistructured interviews to document local ecological knowledge and community perceptions of small cetaceans in 30 coastal fishing villages in Sindhudurg. Perceptions of finless porpoises were largely neutral, whereas humpback dolphins were negative. A classification regression tree (CART) analysis (root node error: 60%) showed that the annual cost of gear damage was an important predictor variable of humpback dolphin perceptions, followed by occupation (gear type) and age. Entanglements were reported for both species in large and small gill nets, and shore seines. Perceived net damage and catch loss due to humpback dolphins was six times greater than that of finless porpoises. However, finless porpoises were reportedly more frequently entangled in gear than humpback dolphins. We provide an insight into the perceptions of cetaceans in the local community and the fisheries-cetacean interactions that shape them.
Jefferson, T.,Smith, B.D.,Braulik, G.,Perrin, W.
Sousa chinensis Book
e.T82031633A82031644. Downloaded on 10 December 2017., 2017.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Bycatch, conservation status, humpback dolphin, Indian Ocean, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa plumbea, Threat assessment
@book{,
title = {Sousa chinensis},
author = {Jefferson, T.,Smith, B.D.,Braulik, G.,Perrin, W.},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species},
number = {126},
publisher = {e.T82031633A82031644. Downloaded on 10 December 2017.},
abstract = {Vulnerable: Justification:
The only available population trend estimate for S. chinensis is an estimated 2.46% annual decline in the size of the subpopulation in HK/PRE (Huang et al. 2012), where there are a number of marine parks and reserves in place for dolphin protection, and where the Hong Kong authorities have put more effort into impact assessment and management than in any other part of the species’ range (see Jefferson et al. 2009). The situation elsewhere appears to be more dire, with fisheries bycatch being a nearly-universal threat. Population reductions of at least 3.7% per annum (see below for information that human-caused mortality rates of 3.7% would lead to a 30% decline in abundance over three generations) can therefore be inferred over most of the species’ range, due to known incidental mortality from intensive fishing effort using entangling gears, and ongoing habitat loss and degradation due to coastal development. Vessel collisions and environmental contamination appear to be factors as well, in at least some parts of the range. The above inference is supported in several areas by direct and/or indirect evidence, including documentation of bycatch, the intensive use of gillnets and other fishing gears known to entangle small cetaceans, interviews with fishermen who use entangling gears, and the abandonment of areas of previous occupancy (see Xu et al. 2015).
The Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin therefore qualifies for Vulnerable A3cd+4cd, based on an inferred population size reduction, where subcriterion c is interpreted as quality of habitat, and subcriterion d (actual or potential levels of exploitation) includes fisheries bycatch. We can infer a population reduction of greater than or equal to 30% over three generations (75 years), from approximately 1960 in the past to 2035 in the future. This takes into account that the main causes of the suspected/inferred decline in population size, bycatch and habitat destruction/degradation, have not ceased and are not well understood throughout most of the species’ range. Other than in Hong Kong (and to a lesser extent Taiwan), there have been virtually no conservation actions taken to address these threats, and available evidence suggests that they will continue and may even escalate in the future. The assessment of S. chinensis as Vulnerable based on criterion A3cd+4cd applies, regardless of whether or not the Bangladesh/eastern India animals are included, because it is based on population trends, rather than absolute numbers or a declining range.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Bycatch, conservation status, humpback dolphin, Indian Ocean, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa plumbea, Threat assessment},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {book}
}
Vulnerable: Justification:
The only available population trend estimate for S. chinensis is an estimated 2.46% annual decline in the size of the subpopulation in HK/PRE (Huang et al. 2012), where there are a number of marine parks and reserves in place for dolphin protection, and where the Hong Kong authorities have put more effort into impact assessment and management than in any other part of the species’ range (see Jefferson et al. 2009). The situation elsewhere appears to be more dire, with fisheries bycatch being a nearly-universal threat. Population reductions of at least 3.7% per annum (see below for information that human-caused mortality rates of 3.7% would lead to a 30% decline in abundance over three generations) can therefore be inferred over most of the species’ range, due to known incidental mortality from intensive fishing effort using entangling gears, and ongoing habitat loss and degradation due to coastal development. Vessel collisions and environmental contamination appear to be factors as well, in at least some parts of the range. The above inference is supported in several areas by direct and/or indirect evidence, including documentation of bycatch, the intensive use of gillnets and other fishing gears known to entangle small cetaceans, interviews with fishermen who use entangling gears, and the abandonment of areas of previous occupancy (see Xu et al. 2015).
The Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin therefore qualifies for Vulnerable A3cd+4cd, based on an inferred population size reduction, where subcriterion c is interpreted as quality of habitat, and subcriterion d (actual or potential levels of exploitation) includes fisheries bycatch. We can infer a population reduction of greater than or equal to 30% over three generations (75 years), from approximately 1960 in the past to 2035 in the future. This takes into account that the main causes of the suspected/inferred decline in population size, bycatch and habitat destruction/degradation, have not ceased and are not well understood throughout most of the species’ range. Other than in Hong Kong (and to a lesser extent Taiwan), there have been virtually no conservation actions taken to address these threats, and available evidence suggests that they will continue and may even escalate in the future. The assessment of S. chinensis as Vulnerable based on criterion A3cd+4cd applies, regardless of whether or not the Bangladesh/eastern India animals are included, because it is based on population trends, rather than absolute numbers or a declining range.
The only available population trend estimate for S. chinensis is an estimated 2.46% annual decline in the size of the subpopulation in HK/PRE (Huang et al. 2012), where there are a number of marine parks and reserves in place for dolphin protection, and where the Hong Kong authorities have put more effort into impact assessment and management than in any other part of the species’ range (see Jefferson et al. 2009). The situation elsewhere appears to be more dire, with fisheries bycatch being a nearly-universal threat. Population reductions of at least 3.7% per annum (see below for information that human-caused mortality rates of 3.7% would lead to a 30% decline in abundance over three generations) can therefore be inferred over most of the species’ range, due to known incidental mortality from intensive fishing effort using entangling gears, and ongoing habitat loss and degradation due to coastal development. Vessel collisions and environmental contamination appear to be factors as well, in at least some parts of the range. The above inference is supported in several areas by direct and/or indirect evidence, including documentation of bycatch, the intensive use of gillnets and other fishing gears known to entangle small cetaceans, interviews with fishermen who use entangling gears, and the abandonment of areas of previous occupancy (see Xu et al. 2015).
The Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin therefore qualifies for Vulnerable A3cd+4cd, based on an inferred population size reduction, where subcriterion c is interpreted as quality of habitat, and subcriterion d (actual or potential levels of exploitation) includes fisheries bycatch. We can infer a population reduction of greater than or equal to 30% over three generations (75 years), from approximately 1960 in the past to 2035 in the future. This takes into account that the main causes of the suspected/inferred decline in population size, bycatch and habitat destruction/degradation, have not ceased and are not well understood throughout most of the species’ range. Other than in Hong Kong (and to a lesser extent Taiwan), there have been virtually no conservation actions taken to address these threats, and available evidence suggests that they will continue and may even escalate in the future. The assessment of S. chinensis as Vulnerable based on criterion A3cd+4cd applies, regardless of whether or not the Bangladesh/eastern India animals are included, because it is based on population trends, rather than absolute numbers or a declining range.
Oman National Centre for Statistics; Information
Statistical Year Book Journal Article
In: vol. Issue 45, no. 390, pp. 447, 2017.
BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, artisanal fisheries, commercial catch, dhow, Fisheries, Gill net, Oman, Sea of Oman
@article{,
title = {Statistical Year Book},
author = {Oman National Centre for Statistics and Information},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
volume = {Issue 45},
number = {390},
pages = {447},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, artisanal fisheries, commercial catch, dhow, Fisheries, Gill net, Oman, Sea of Oman},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Gray, H. W. I.,Nishida, S.,Welch, A. J.,Moura, A. E.,Tanabe, S.,Kiani, M. S.,Culloch, R.,Möller, L.,Natoli, A.,Ponnampalam, L. S.,Minton, G.,Gore, M.,Collins, T.,Willson, A.,Baldwin, R.,Hoelzel, A. R.
Cryptic Lineage Differentiation Among Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in the Northwest Indian Ocean Journal Article
In: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, no. 381, 2017, ISBN: 1055-7903.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: bottlenose dolphin, conservation, Indian Ocean, Phylogeography, Pleistocene, taxonomy, tursiops aduncus
@article{,
title = {Cryptic Lineage Differentiation Among Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in the Northwest Indian Ocean},
author = {Gray, H. W. I.,Nishida, S.,Welch, A. J.,Moura, A. E.,Tanabe, S.,Kiani, M. S.,Culloch, R.,Möller, L.,Natoli, A.,Ponnampalam, L. S.,Minton, G.,Gore, M.,Collins, T.,Willson, A.,Baldwin, R.,Hoelzel, A. R.},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790317300635},
issn = {1055-7903},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution},
number = {381},
abstract = {Phylogeography can provide insight into the potential for speciation and identify geographic regions and evolutionary processes associated with species richness and evolutionary endemism. In the marine environment, highly mobile species sometimes show structured patterns of diversity, but the processes isolating populations and promoting differentiation are often unclear. The Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins) are a striking case in point and, in particular, bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.). Understanding the radiation of species in this genus is likely to provide broader inference about the processes that determine patterns of biogeography and speciation, because both fine-scale structure over a range of kilometers and relative panmixia over an oceanic range are known for Tursiops populations. In our study, novel Tursiops spp. sequences from the northwest Indian Ocean (including mitogenomes and two nuDNA loci) are included in a worldwide Tursiops spp. phylogeographic analysis. We discover a new ‘aduncus’ type lineage in the Arabian Sea (off India, Pakistan and Oman) that diverged from the Australasian lineage },
keywords = {bottlenose dolphin, conservation, Indian Ocean, Phylogeography, Pleistocene, taxonomy, tursiops aduncus},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Phylogeography can provide insight into the potential for speciation and identify geographic regions and evolutionary processes associated with species richness and evolutionary endemism. In the marine environment, highly mobile species sometimes show structured patterns of diversity, but the processes isolating populations and promoting differentiation are often unclear. The Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins) are a striking case in point and, in particular, bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.). Understanding the radiation of species in this genus is likely to provide broader inference about the processes that determine patterns of biogeography and speciation, because both fine-scale structure over a range of kilometers and relative panmixia over an oceanic range are known for Tursiops populations. In our study, novel Tursiops spp. sequences from the northwest Indian Ocean (including mitogenomes and two nuDNA loci) are included in a worldwide Tursiops spp. phylogeographic analysis. We discover a new ‘aduncus’ type lineage in the Arabian Sea (off India, Pakistan and Oman) that diverged from the Australasian lineage
Gore, M. A.,Culloch, R,Gray, H.,Hoelzel, A. R.,Lockyer, C.,Kiani, M. S.,Waqas, U,Hussain, B,Rahim, Abdul,Shah, A.,Ormond, R. F.
Assessment of beach-cast cetaceans in Pakistan: implications for conservation and management Journal Article
In: Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, vol. 16, no. 104, pp. 1-7, 2017.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: aging, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, beach survey, Bryde’s whale, carcass analysis, genetics, Pakistan, stranding
@article{,
title = {Assessment of beach-cast cetaceans in Pakistan: implications for conservation and management},
author = {Gore, M. A.,Culloch, R,Gray, H.,Hoelzel, A. R.,Lockyer, C.,Kiani, M. S.,Waqas, U,Hussain, B,Rahim, Abdul,Shah, A.,Ormond, R. F.},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Cetacean Research and Management},
volume = {16},
number = {104},
pages = {1-7},
abstract = {Until recently, little was known about the distribution and species occurrence of marine cetaceans in Pakistani waters, an area which needed to be
addressed exigently given its inclusion in the Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Boat-based surveys (2005–09) carried out along the coast of Pakistan
identified 12 species of cetaceans. Although these surveys can be very useful for providing information on species presence and distribution,
estimates of the age and sex of these groups can be more uncertain. Consequently, this present study undertook complementary beach-based surveys
over the same period across all accessible regions of the Pakistani coast and created a community reporting scheme for stranded and beach-cast
remains of cetaceans. Tissue samples and/or skeletal material were collected over three years from 37 individual specimens, with DNA successfully
extracted from 24. Using molecular techniques, a total of seven species were identified and there was an indication that the majority of the samples
were from males. An analysis of teeth collected from 12 beach-cast odontocetes showed an age range between neonatal and 17 years. The results
of this study corroborate the presence of species observed during the boat-based surveys and identified a further three species. The data also provide
additional information on age and sex. A comparison with similar studies suggests that the stranding rate is low in Pakistan. No mass strandings
occurred during the seven year monitoring period. The results indicate that beach-based surveys are effective for gathering data on species presence
in regions where resources are limited, the terrain is harsh and availability of data is low. Ultimately, the results of this work will help with assessing
the conservation status and management requirements of the region’s cetaceans, both locally and internationally with respect to the Indian Ocean
Whale Sanctuary. Species identified were 4 bottlenose
dolphins (Tursiops sp.), 6 long-beaked common dolphins, 1
spinner dolphin, 4 Indian Ocean humpback dolphins, 1 pantropical
spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) and 5 Bryde’s
whales},
keywords = {aging, Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, beach survey, Bryde’s whale, carcass analysis, genetics, Pakistan, stranding},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Until recently, little was known about the distribution and species occurrence of marine cetaceans in Pakistani waters, an area which needed to be
addressed exigently given its inclusion in the Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Boat-based surveys (2005–09) carried out along the coast of Pakistan
identified 12 species of cetaceans. Although these surveys can be very useful for providing information on species presence and distribution,
estimates of the age and sex of these groups can be more uncertain. Consequently, this present study undertook complementary beach-based surveys
over the same period across all accessible regions of the Pakistani coast and created a community reporting scheme for stranded and beach-cast
remains of cetaceans. Tissue samples and/or skeletal material were collected over three years from 37 individual specimens, with DNA successfully
extracted from 24. Using molecular techniques, a total of seven species were identified and there was an indication that the majority of the samples
were from males. An analysis of teeth collected from 12 beach-cast odontocetes showed an age range between neonatal and 17 years. The results
of this study corroborate the presence of species observed during the boat-based surveys and identified a further three species. The data also provide
additional information on age and sex. A comparison with similar studies suggests that the stranding rate is low in Pakistan. No mass strandings
occurred during the seven year monitoring period. The results indicate that beach-based surveys are effective for gathering data on species presence
in regions where resources are limited, the terrain is harsh and availability of data is low. Ultimately, the results of this work will help with assessing
the conservation status and management requirements of the region’s cetaceans, both locally and internationally with respect to the Indian Ocean
Whale Sanctuary. Species identified were 4 bottlenose
dolphins (Tursiops sp.), 6 long-beaked common dolphins, 1
spinner dolphin, 4 Indian Ocean humpback dolphins, 1 pantropical
spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) and 5 Bryde’s
whales
addressed exigently given its inclusion in the Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Boat-based surveys (2005–09) carried out along the coast of Pakistan
identified 12 species of cetaceans. Although these surveys can be very useful for providing information on species presence and distribution,
estimates of the age and sex of these groups can be more uncertain. Consequently, this present study undertook complementary beach-based surveys
over the same period across all accessible regions of the Pakistani coast and created a community reporting scheme for stranded and beach-cast
remains of cetaceans. Tissue samples and/or skeletal material were collected over three years from 37 individual specimens, with DNA successfully
extracted from 24. Using molecular techniques, a total of seven species were identified and there was an indication that the majority of the samples
were from males. An analysis of teeth collected from 12 beach-cast odontocetes showed an age range between neonatal and 17 years. The results
of this study corroborate the presence of species observed during the boat-based surveys and identified a further three species. The data also provide
additional information on age and sex. A comparison with similar studies suggests that the stranding rate is low in Pakistan. No mass strandings
occurred during the seven year monitoring period. The results indicate that beach-based surveys are effective for gathering data on species presence
in regions where resources are limited, the terrain is harsh and availability of data is low. Ultimately, the results of this work will help with assessing
the conservation status and management requirements of the region’s cetaceans, both locally and internationally with respect to the Indian Ocean
Whale Sanctuary. Species identified were 4 bottlenose
dolphins (Tursiops sp.), 6 long-beaked common dolphins, 1
spinner dolphin, 4 Indian Ocean humpback dolphins, 1 pantropical
spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) and 5 Bryde’s
whales
Díaz López, Bruno,Grandcourt, Edwin,Methion, Séverine,Das, Himansu,Bugla, Ibrahim,Al Hameli, Maitha,Al Ameri, Hind,Abdulla, Mohamed,Al Blooshi, Ayesha,Al Dhaheri, Shaikha
The distribution, abundance and group dynamics of Indian Ocean humpback dolphins ( Journal Article
In: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, no. 88, pp. 1-9, 2017, ISBN: 0025-3154.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: abundance, Arabian Gulf, coastal environment, conservation, Indian Ocean humpback dolphins, Persian Gulf, photo-identification, sousa
@article{,
title = {The distribution, abundance and group dynamics of Indian Ocean humpback dolphins (},
author = {Díaz López, Bruno,Grandcourt, Edwin,Methion, Séverine,Das, Himansu,Bugla, Ibrahim,Al Hameli, Maitha,Al Ameri, Hind,Abdulla, Mohamed,Al Blooshi, Ayesha,Al Dhaheri, Shaikha},
url = {https://www.cambridge.org/core/article/distribution-abundance-and-group-dynamics-of-indian-ocean-humpback-dolphins-sousa-plumbea-in-the-emirate-of-abu-dhabi-uae/9FB6BE811A329C1A0BA57F0BDFC65AB3},
issn = {0025-3154},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom},
number = {88},
pages = {1-9},
publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
abstract = {The Arabian Gulf is one of the most heavily impacted water bodies raising serious concerns about the conservation status of many marine species. A limited coastal range and near-shore distribution make Indian Ocean humpback dolphins particularly vulnerable to mortality and traumatic injuries from heavy maritime traffic and gill-netting practices. Prior to the present study, no research had focused on the ecology of this species in the Arabian Gulf, despite the potential for human impacts. The mark–recapture method of photo-identification, undertaken during 55 boat-based surveys conducted between 2014 and 2015, was used to assess the occurrence, abundance and use of habitat of this endangered species along the coast of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (UAE). In all, 368 h and 6703 km of observation were carried out over a period of 5 months, and 54 encounters were made with humpback dolphins. The group size ranged from 1 to 24 individuals and group composition showed that 79% of the observed dolphins were adults. Abundance estimates were calculated and fitted with open population models. A review of all available data indicates that the studied population is the largest reported in the world with 701 (95% CI = 473–845) individuals. While their occurrence within Abu Dhabi near-shore waters is frequent, the survey area appears to be only a part of a much larger home range for this humpback dolphin population. The observation of multiple threats derived from anthropogenic activities increases our concerns regarding the conservation of this important dolphin population.},
keywords = {abundance, Arabian Gulf, coastal environment, conservation, Indian Ocean humpback dolphins, Persian Gulf, photo-identification, sousa},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The Arabian Gulf is one of the most heavily impacted water bodies raising serious concerns about the conservation status of many marine species. A limited coastal range and near-shore distribution make Indian Ocean humpback dolphins particularly vulnerable to mortality and traumatic injuries from heavy maritime traffic and gill-netting practices. Prior to the present study, no research had focused on the ecology of this species in the Arabian Gulf, despite the potential for human impacts. The mark–recapture method of photo-identification, undertaken during 55 boat-based surveys conducted between 2014 and 2015, was used to assess the occurrence, abundance and use of habitat of this endangered species along the coast of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (UAE). In all, 368 h and 6703 km of observation were carried out over a period of 5 months, and 54 encounters were made with humpback dolphins. The group size ranged from 1 to 24 individuals and group composition showed that 79% of the observed dolphins were adults. Abundance estimates were calculated and fitted with open population models. A review of all available data indicates that the studied population is the largest reported in the world with 701 (95% CI = 473–845) individuals. While their occurrence within Abu Dhabi near-shore waters is frequent, the survey area appears to be only a part of a much larger home range for this humpback dolphin population. The observation of multiple threats derived from anthropogenic activities increases our concerns regarding the conservation of this important dolphin population.
de Vos, Asha
First record of Omura’s whale, Balaenoptera omurai, in Sri Lankan waters Journal Article
In: Marine Biodiversity Records, vol. 10, no. 82, pp. 18, 2017, ISBN: 1755-2672.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, balaenoptera omurai, Distribution, Northern Indian Ocean, Omura's Whale, Sri Lanka
@article{,
title = {First record of Omura’s whale, Balaenoptera omurai, in Sri Lankan waters},
author = {de Vos, Asha},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s41200-017-0121-2},
issn = {1755-2672},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Marine Biodiversity Records},
volume = {10},
number = {82},
pages = {18},
abstract = {An unusually coloured, small baleen whale was documented off the southern coast of Sri Lanka in February 2017 during routine field surveys. Based on five distinct morphological characteristics including jaw asymmetry, presence of a prominent central rostral ridge, blaze on right side, asymmetrical chevron on left and right sides and a strongly falcate dorsal fin the individual was positively identified as an Omura’s whale (Balaenoptera omurai). This discovery represents the first confirmed sighting of Omura’s whale in Sri Lankan and therefore central Northern Indian Ocean waters.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, balaenoptera omurai, Distribution, Northern Indian Ocean, Omura's Whale, Sri Lanka},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
An unusually coloured, small baleen whale was documented off the southern coast of Sri Lanka in February 2017 during routine field surveys. Based on five distinct morphological characteristics including jaw asymmetry, presence of a prominent central rostral ridge, blaze on right side, asymmetrical chevron on left and right sides and a strongly falcate dorsal fin the individual was positively identified as an Omura’s whale (Balaenoptera omurai). This discovery represents the first confirmed sighting of Omura’s whale in Sri Lankan and therefore central Northern Indian Ocean waters.
Dakteh, S.M.H.,Ranjbar, S.,Moazeni, M.,Mohsenian, Nazanin,Delshab, H.,Moshiri, H.,Van Waerebeek, K
On the presence of humpback whales in the Persian Gulf: rare or rarely documented? Technical Report
no. 78, 2017, ISBN: SC/67A/CMP/14.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Entanglement, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Persian Gulf, ship strike, stranding
@techreport{,
title = {On the presence of humpback whales in the Persian Gulf: rare or rarely documented?},
author = {Dakteh, S.M.H.,Ranjbar, S.,Moazeni, M.,Mohsenian, Nazanin,Delshab, H.,Moshiri, H.,Van Waerebeek, K},
issn = { SC/67A/CMP/14},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Document presented to the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
number = {78},
pages = {7},
abstract = {We critically review the evidence for humpback whale presence in the Persian Gulf. Five specimen records, assumed to belong to the
endangered Arabian Sea population, are confirmed in the period 1883- 2017: Bassore Bay, Iraq; Doha, Qatar; Kuwait Inner harbour,
Kuwait; Qeshm Island, Iran; and Akhtar, Bushehr Province, Iran. The two Iranian cases, both juveniles, are newly recorded. With
accumulating reports, an alternate hypothesis to 'rare stragglers' deserves consideration, one in which Arabian Sea humpback whales
may enter the Persian Gulf with some regularity, perhaps as normal visitors, if not permanent residents. Deficiency of records may
reflect a general sparsity of whale research effort in the Persian Gulf. The historical description of Megaptera indica Gervais, 1883 is
translated from French.},
keywords = {Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Entanglement, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Persian Gulf, ship strike, stranding},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
We critically review the evidence for humpback whale presence in the Persian Gulf. Five specimen records, assumed to belong to the
endangered Arabian Sea population, are confirmed in the period 1883- 2017: Bassore Bay, Iraq; Doha, Qatar; Kuwait Inner harbour,
Kuwait; Qeshm Island, Iran; and Akhtar, Bushehr Province, Iran. The two Iranian cases, both juveniles, are newly recorded. With
accumulating reports, an alternate hypothesis to 'rare stragglers' deserves consideration, one in which Arabian Sea humpback whales
may enter the Persian Gulf with some regularity, perhaps as normal visitors, if not permanent residents. Deficiency of records may
reflect a general sparsity of whale research effort in the Persian Gulf. The historical description of Megaptera indica Gervais, 1883 is
translated from French.
endangered Arabian Sea population, are confirmed in the period 1883- 2017: Bassore Bay, Iraq; Doha, Qatar; Kuwait Inner harbour,
Kuwait; Qeshm Island, Iran; and Akhtar, Bushehr Province, Iran. The two Iranian cases, both juveniles, are newly recorded. With
accumulating reports, an alternate hypothesis to 'rare stragglers' deserves consideration, one in which Arabian Sea humpback whales
may enter the Persian Gulf with some regularity, perhaps as normal visitors, if not permanent residents. Deficiency of records may
reflect a general sparsity of whale research effort in the Persian Gulf. The historical description of Megaptera indica Gervais, 1883 is
translated from French.
Dakhteh, Seyed M. H.,Ranjbar, Sharif,Moazeni, Mostafa,Mohsenian, Nazanin,Delshab, Hossein,Moshiri, Hamed,Nabavi, Seyed M. B.,Van Waerebeek, Koen
The Persian Gulf is part of the habitual range of the Arabian Sea Humpback whale population Journal Article
In: Journal of Marine Biology & Oceanography, vol. 6, no. 77, pp. 1-6, 2017.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Distribution, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Persian Gulf, ship strike
@article{,
title = {The Persian Gulf is part of the habitual range of the Arabian Sea Humpback whale population},
author = {Dakhteh, Seyed M. H.,Ranjbar, Sharif,Moazeni, Mostafa,Mohsenian, Nazanin,Delshab, Hossein,Moshiri, Hamed,Nabavi, Seyed M. B.,Van Waerebeek, Koen},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Marine Biology & Oceanography},
volume = {6},
number = {77},
pages = {1-6},
abstract = {The humpback whale has long been considered a rare straggler into the Persian Gulf, however new evidence contradicts this concept. We here critically review published and new records for Megaptera novaeangliae occurrence in the Gulf for the period 1883-2017. Of eight authenticated records (6 specimens, 2 live-sightings), seven are contemporary cases while one is a mid-Holocene specimen from UAE. An additional four are possible but unsubstantiated reports. Four regional, current, range states are confirmed, i.e. Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar. Four of the five newly reported cases are from Iran's coastal waters. We conclude that the Persian Gulf is part of the habitual range of the Arabian Sea humpback whale population, and has been since at least the mid-Holocene. It is unknown whether frequent passage occurs through the Strait of Hormuz or whether whales are (semi)resident. The low abundance of this endangered population and frequent deleterious anthropogenic events, particularly ship strikes and net entanglements, are cause for major concern. In view of its historical and taxonomic relevance, the formal description of Megaptera indica Gervais, 1883, from Iraq, now thought to be a subspecies M. novaeangliae indica, is here translated from French.%U http://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2017/09/06/185033.full.pdf},
keywords = {Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Distribution, Humpback Whale, megaptera novaeangliae, Persian Gulf, ship strike},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The humpback whale has long been considered a rare straggler into the Persian Gulf, however new evidence contradicts this concept. We here critically review published and new records for Megaptera novaeangliae occurrence in the Gulf for the period 1883-2017. Of eight authenticated records (6 specimens, 2 live-sightings), seven are contemporary cases while one is a mid-Holocene specimen from UAE. An additional four are possible but unsubstantiated reports. Four regional, current, range states are confirmed, i.e. Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar. Four of the five newly reported cases are from Iran's coastal waters. We conclude that the Persian Gulf is part of the habitual range of the Arabian Sea humpback whale population, and has been since at least the mid-Holocene. It is unknown whether frequent passage occurs through the Strait of Hormuz or whether whales are (semi)resident. The low abundance of this endangered population and frequent deleterious anthropogenic events, particularly ship strikes and net entanglements, are cause for major concern. In view of its historical and taxonomic relevance, the formal description of Megaptera indica Gervais, 1883, from Iraq, now thought to be a subspecies M. novaeangliae indica, is here translated from French.%U http://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2017/09/06/185033.full.pdf
Cates, K.,DeMaster, D.P.,Brownell Jr, R.L.,Silber, G. K.,Gende, S.,Leaper, R.,Ritter, F.,Panigada, S.
Strategic Plan to Mitigate the Impacts of Ship Strikes on Cetacean Populations: 2017-2020 Technical Report
no. 64, 2017.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: IWC, mitigation, risk assessment, ship strike, Threats, vessel traffic
@techreport{,
title = {Strategic Plan to Mitigate the Impacts of Ship Strikes on Cetacean Populations: 2017-2020},
author = {Cates, K.,DeMaster, D.P.,Brownell Jr, R.L.,Silber, G. K.,Gende, S.,Leaper, R.,Ritter, F.,Panigada, S.},
url = {https://iwc.int/private/downloads/dr1UJzeCuNpAWs9Xf9caBw/IWC_Strategic_Plan_on_Ship_Strikes_Working_Group_FINAL.pdf},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Document presented and endorsed by the meeting of the Conservation Committee of the International Whaling Commission},
volume = {IWC/66/CC20 - updated },
number = {64},
pages = {17},
publisher = {International Whaling Commission},
abstract = {The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has identified the need to produce a Strategic Plan describing its activities intended to reduce the threat of ship strikes with cetaceans in the near and distant future. This document provides the necessary background, information and recommendations to help the IWC develop approaches and solutions by 2020 to achieve a permanent reduction in ship strikes of cetaceans.
A number of recommendations were accepted by the IWC at its October 2016 meeting (IWC-66), including: (1) Initiate efforts to get a more comprehensive and more accurate reporting of ship strike incidents into the Ship Strike Database, (2) Review records of ship strikes and add new records to the database in a reasonable time frame, (3) Improve on the reliability of species identification of ship struck whales, (4) Maintain an easily assessable compendium of relevant papers and reports of ship strike issues; produce an updated bibliography related to ship strike issues on a two year schedule, (5) Implement use of a standard protocol for reviewing and recording data into the Ship Strike database, and (6) Publish summary statistics from the Ship Strike database on a routine basis, and couple this effort with outreach efforts.
The IWC has recognized that reducing the spatial overlap of both high numbers of cetaceans and high numbers of vessels is likely to remain the best means of reducing ship strikes. Reducing vessel speeds in areas of high interactions is also a key element in mitigating adverse impacts on cetacean populations.
Finally, it was noted that human-induced mortality caused by ship strikes can be an impediment to cetacean population growth. Populations of whales in the low hundreds of individuals are at risk of continuing declines even if only a small number of ship strikes occur per year. Therefore, it is important to identify populations that are small, are in decline, or for which human activities result in whale deaths or injuries and to monitor these populations to evaluate the extent to which ship strikes are a threat:
a. Western North Atlantic right whale
b. Eastern North Pacific right whale
c. Chile-Peru right whale
d. Arabian Sea humpback whale
e. Western gray whale
f. Blue whale-Sri Lanka and Arabian Sea
g. Blue whale-Chile
h. Sperm whale-Mediterranean Sea
i. Fin whale-Mediterranean Sea
j. Bryde’s whale-Gulf of Mexico
k. Omura’s whale-Northwestern Madagascar
l. Sperm whale-Canary Islands region},
keywords = {IWC, mitigation, risk assessment, ship strike, Threats, vessel traffic},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has identified the need to produce a Strategic Plan describing its activities intended to reduce the threat of ship strikes with cetaceans in the near and distant future. This document provides the necessary background, information and recommendations to help the IWC develop approaches and solutions by 2020 to achieve a permanent reduction in ship strikes of cetaceans.
A number of recommendations were accepted by the IWC at its October 2016 meeting (IWC-66), including: (1) Initiate efforts to get a more comprehensive and more accurate reporting of ship strike incidents into the Ship Strike Database, (2) Review records of ship strikes and add new records to the database in a reasonable time frame, (3) Improve on the reliability of species identification of ship struck whales, (4) Maintain an easily assessable compendium of relevant papers and reports of ship strike issues; produce an updated bibliography related to ship strike issues on a two year schedule, (5) Implement use of a standard protocol for reviewing and recording data into the Ship Strike database, and (6) Publish summary statistics from the Ship Strike database on a routine basis, and couple this effort with outreach efforts.
The IWC has recognized that reducing the spatial overlap of both high numbers of cetaceans and high numbers of vessels is likely to remain the best means of reducing ship strikes. Reducing vessel speeds in areas of high interactions is also a key element in mitigating adverse impacts on cetacean populations.
Finally, it was noted that human-induced mortality caused by ship strikes can be an impediment to cetacean population growth. Populations of whales in the low hundreds of individuals are at risk of continuing declines even if only a small number of ship strikes occur per year. Therefore, it is important to identify populations that are small, are in decline, or for which human activities result in whale deaths or injuries and to monitor these populations to evaluate the extent to which ship strikes are a threat:
a. Western North Atlantic right whale
b. Eastern North Pacific right whale
c. Chile-Peru right whale
d. Arabian Sea humpback whale
e. Western gray whale
f. Blue whale-Sri Lanka and Arabian Sea
g. Blue whale-Chile
h. Sperm whale-Mediterranean Sea
i. Fin whale-Mediterranean Sea
j. Bryde’s whale-Gulf of Mexico
k. Omura’s whale-Northwestern Madagascar
l. Sperm whale-Canary Islands region
A number of recommendations were accepted by the IWC at its October 2016 meeting (IWC-66), including: (1) Initiate efforts to get a more comprehensive and more accurate reporting of ship strike incidents into the Ship Strike Database, (2) Review records of ship strikes and add new records to the database in a reasonable time frame, (3) Improve on the reliability of species identification of ship struck whales, (4) Maintain an easily assessable compendium of relevant papers and reports of ship strike issues; produce an updated bibliography related to ship strike issues on a two year schedule, (5) Implement use of a standard protocol for reviewing and recording data into the Ship Strike database, and (6) Publish summary statistics from the Ship Strike database on a routine basis, and couple this effort with outreach efforts.
The IWC has recognized that reducing the spatial overlap of both high numbers of cetaceans and high numbers of vessels is likely to remain the best means of reducing ship strikes. Reducing vessel speeds in areas of high interactions is also a key element in mitigating adverse impacts on cetacean populations.
Finally, it was noted that human-induced mortality caused by ship strikes can be an impediment to cetacean population growth. Populations of whales in the low hundreds of individuals are at risk of continuing declines even if only a small number of ship strikes occur per year. Therefore, it is important to identify populations that are small, are in decline, or for which human activities result in whale deaths or injuries and to monitor these populations to evaluate the extent to which ship strikes are a threat:
a. Western North Atlantic right whale
b. Eastern North Pacific right whale
c. Chile-Peru right whale
d. Arabian Sea humpback whale
e. Western gray whale
f. Blue whale-Sri Lanka and Arabian Sea
g. Blue whale-Chile
h. Sperm whale-Mediterranean Sea
i. Fin whale-Mediterranean Sea
j. Bryde’s whale-Gulf of Mexico
k. Omura’s whale-Northwestern Madagascar
l. Sperm whale-Canary Islands region
Braulik, G.,Findlay, K,Cerchio, S,Baldwin, R,Perrin, W.
Sousa plumbea Book
e.T82031633A82031644. Downloaded on 10 December 2017., 2017.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Bycatch, conservation status, humpback dolphin, Indian Ocean, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa plumbea, Threat assessment
@book{,
title = {Sousa plumbea},
author = {Braulik, G.,Findlay, K,Cerchio, S,Baldwin, R,Perrin, W.},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species},
number = {49},
publisher = {e.T82031633A82031644. Downloaded on 10 December 2017.},
abstract = {Endangered: Justification:
In the places where studies have occurred, Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin subpopulations were found to be small: always fewer than 500 and generally fewer than 100 individuals in discrete, or semi-isolated areas. Humpback dolphins have one of the most specific habitat preferences and restricted distributions of any marine megafauna, and both of these characteristics are well known to reduce the resilience of species to environmental change and anthropogenic threats and to increase their extinction risk (Davidson et al. 2011, Dulvy et al. 2014, Purvis et al. 2000). Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins are concentrated in coastal waters within 2 km of shore and they are often sighted only a few hundred meters from land. This distribution places them in exactly the same location as the majority of small-scale fishing effort prevalent throughout their range in the same nearshore habitat. As a result, humpback dolphins encounter large numbers of coastal gillnets and are at high risk of entanglement. High and clearly unsustainable mortality rates have been reported from several areas and frequent encounters with fishing gear can be inferred from the high degree of scarring and injury—for example, 41% of individuals in Pemba, Tanzania bore gear-related scars (Braulik unpub. data). Although information on population size, threats and mortality is available only for portions of the species range, there are strong reasons to suspect and infer that the threats will be similar or possibly even more intense elsewhere.
The deaths of only 4.2 individuals per year from a population of 100 would result in a 50% decline (Moore 2015). The available evidence on the studied subpopulations in South Africa and all indications from elsewhere in the range suggest that mortality rates are consistently at or above the rate that would result in a 50% decline in 75 years (three generations). The species’ preferred habitat and small populations overlap in both space and time with several ubiquitous and pervasive threats that are increasing in severity, leaving no refuges for these dolphins. The threats are serious enough in a large enough proportion of the total species range that a range-wide decline of at least 50% over three generations spanning both the past and the future (about 75 years, from 1960 (the start of intensive mono-filament gillnetting in this region) to 2035) is suspected and inferred and the causes of the decline (bycatch and hunting [both considered here to constitute ‘exploitation’], decline in habitat quality and possibly pollution) have not ceased. Therefore, the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin qualifies for Endangered A4cd.
The factor primarily responsible for the decline is incidental mortality in small-scale coastal fisheries, but the loss, degradation and pollution of habitat in numerous coastal areas is a contributing and increasing factor. The threats have not been mitigated anywhere in the species’ range, even though threat levels are increasing virtually everywhere. All evidence suggests that threats and declines will continue and are likely to increase in the future and worldwide there are almost no examples where cetacean bycatch in small-scale artisanal fisheries has been successfully addressed. Alternative methods for small-scale fisheries to replace gillnets are not generally available. Therefore, the species also qualifies for Endangered 3cd as a decline of over 50% can be projected to occur over the next three generations (75 years from 2016 to 2091). It also qualifies for Endangered A2cd as a decline of over 50% is suspected over the last 75 years beginning with the expansion of the use of gillnets in global marine fisheries from around the end of the Second World War up to the present day.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Bycatch, conservation status, humpback dolphin, Indian Ocean, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa plumbea, Threat assessment},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {book}
}
Endangered: Justification:
In the places where studies have occurred, Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin subpopulations were found to be small: always fewer than 500 and generally fewer than 100 individuals in discrete, or semi-isolated areas. Humpback dolphins have one of the most specific habitat preferences and restricted distributions of any marine megafauna, and both of these characteristics are well known to reduce the resilience of species to environmental change and anthropogenic threats and to increase their extinction risk (Davidson et al. 2011, Dulvy et al. 2014, Purvis et al. 2000). Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins are concentrated in coastal waters within 2 km of shore and they are often sighted only a few hundred meters from land. This distribution places them in exactly the same location as the majority of small-scale fishing effort prevalent throughout their range in the same nearshore habitat. As a result, humpback dolphins encounter large numbers of coastal gillnets and are at high risk of entanglement. High and clearly unsustainable mortality rates have been reported from several areas and frequent encounters with fishing gear can be inferred from the high degree of scarring and injury—for example, 41% of individuals in Pemba, Tanzania bore gear-related scars (Braulik unpub. data). Although information on population size, threats and mortality is available only for portions of the species range, there are strong reasons to suspect and infer that the threats will be similar or possibly even more intense elsewhere.
The deaths of only 4.2 individuals per year from a population of 100 would result in a 50% decline (Moore 2015). The available evidence on the studied subpopulations in South Africa and all indications from elsewhere in the range suggest that mortality rates are consistently at or above the rate that would result in a 50% decline in 75 years (three generations). The species’ preferred habitat and small populations overlap in both space and time with several ubiquitous and pervasive threats that are increasing in severity, leaving no refuges for these dolphins. The threats are serious enough in a large enough proportion of the total species range that a range-wide decline of at least 50% over three generations spanning both the past and the future (about 75 years, from 1960 (the start of intensive mono-filament gillnetting in this region) to 2035) is suspected and inferred and the causes of the decline (bycatch and hunting [both considered here to constitute ‘exploitation’], decline in habitat quality and possibly pollution) have not ceased. Therefore, the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin qualifies for Endangered A4cd.
The factor primarily responsible for the decline is incidental mortality in small-scale coastal fisheries, but the loss, degradation and pollution of habitat in numerous coastal areas is a contributing and increasing factor. The threats have not been mitigated anywhere in the species’ range, even though threat levels are increasing virtually everywhere. All evidence suggests that threats and declines will continue and are likely to increase in the future and worldwide there are almost no examples where cetacean bycatch in small-scale artisanal fisheries has been successfully addressed. Alternative methods for small-scale fisheries to replace gillnets are not generally available. Therefore, the species also qualifies for Endangered 3cd as a decline of over 50% can be projected to occur over the next three generations (75 years from 2016 to 2091). It also qualifies for Endangered A2cd as a decline of over 50% is suspected over the last 75 years beginning with the expansion of the use of gillnets in global marine fisheries from around the end of the Second World War up to the present day.
In the places where studies have occurred, Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin subpopulations were found to be small: always fewer than 500 and generally fewer than 100 individuals in discrete, or semi-isolated areas. Humpback dolphins have one of the most specific habitat preferences and restricted distributions of any marine megafauna, and both of these characteristics are well known to reduce the resilience of species to environmental change and anthropogenic threats and to increase their extinction risk (Davidson et al. 2011, Dulvy et al. 2014, Purvis et al. 2000). Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins are concentrated in coastal waters within 2 km of shore and they are often sighted only a few hundred meters from land. This distribution places them in exactly the same location as the majority of small-scale fishing effort prevalent throughout their range in the same nearshore habitat. As a result, humpback dolphins encounter large numbers of coastal gillnets and are at high risk of entanglement. High and clearly unsustainable mortality rates have been reported from several areas and frequent encounters with fishing gear can be inferred from the high degree of scarring and injury—for example, 41% of individuals in Pemba, Tanzania bore gear-related scars (Braulik unpub. data). Although information on population size, threats and mortality is available only for portions of the species range, there are strong reasons to suspect and infer that the threats will be similar or possibly even more intense elsewhere.
The deaths of only 4.2 individuals per year from a population of 100 would result in a 50% decline (Moore 2015). The available evidence on the studied subpopulations in South Africa and all indications from elsewhere in the range suggest that mortality rates are consistently at or above the rate that would result in a 50% decline in 75 years (three generations). The species’ preferred habitat and small populations overlap in both space and time with several ubiquitous and pervasive threats that are increasing in severity, leaving no refuges for these dolphins. The threats are serious enough in a large enough proportion of the total species range that a range-wide decline of at least 50% over three generations spanning both the past and the future (about 75 years, from 1960 (the start of intensive mono-filament gillnetting in this region) to 2035) is suspected and inferred and the causes of the decline (bycatch and hunting [both considered here to constitute ‘exploitation’], decline in habitat quality and possibly pollution) have not ceased. Therefore, the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin qualifies for Endangered A4cd.
The factor primarily responsible for the decline is incidental mortality in small-scale coastal fisheries, but the loss, degradation and pollution of habitat in numerous coastal areas is a contributing and increasing factor. The threats have not been mitigated anywhere in the species’ range, even though threat levels are increasing virtually everywhere. All evidence suggests that threats and declines will continue and are likely to increase in the future and worldwide there are almost no examples where cetacean bycatch in small-scale artisanal fisheries has been successfully addressed. Alternative methods for small-scale fisheries to replace gillnets are not generally available. Therefore, the species also qualifies for Endangered 3cd as a decline of over 50% can be projected to occur over the next three generations (75 years from 2016 to 2091). It also qualifies for Endangered A2cd as a decline of over 50% is suspected over the last 75 years beginning with the expansion of the use of gillnets in global marine fisheries from around the end of the Second World War up to the present day.