@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}

}

@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}

}

@article{,

title = {Cetacean Presence in the Trincomalee Bay and Adjacent Waters, Sri Lanka},

author = {Nanayakkara, Ranil P.,Herath, Jayampathi,de Mel, Ruvinda K.},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/819263},

issn = {2633-4666},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Marine Biology},

volume = {2014},

number = {180},

pages = {819263},

publisher = {Hindawi Publishing Corporation},

abstract = {In Sri Lanka thirty species of cetaceans have been recorded to date. The canyon at Trincomalee bay is a multiple submarine canyon complex and anecdotal reports suggest that the Trincomalee bay and its adjacent waters are utilised by a number of cetacean species. Though Cetaceans are known to be abundant in the waters off Trincomalee there is a dearth of research and data pertaining to the abundance and species frequenting the Trincomalee bay and its adjacent waters. As such the current study was initiated, to get a consensus of the abundance and occurrences of species in Trincomalee Bay and its adjacent waters. Field surveys were carried out for 19 months and the research platform was a 35-foot commercial fishing vessel. 177 cetacean encounters were recorded on 67 of the 75 field days. Remarkably a total of 11 species of cetaceans which composed of two species of Baleen Whales and nine species of Toothed Whales were recorded. Delphinidae was the most common family recorded, followed by Balaenopteridae, Ziphiidae, Physeteridae, and Kogiidae. Spinner Dolphins were the most abundant cetacean owing to the large pods observed and the regularity of the sightings. They were the only species seen feeding/traveling with birds and fish (tuna). Sperm Whales, Blue Whales, and Bryde’s Whales were also relatively common. Two records of interspecific association between cetaceans were recorded. The increase in the human population in the study area has resulted in the overexploitation of marine resources which has dire repercussions on the marine mammal communities found in these waters.},

keywords = {Arabian Sea, balaenoptera edeni, balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale, Bryde’s whale, Distribution, diversity, Indian Ocean, Physeter macrocephalus, sperm whale, Spinner dolphin, Sri Lanka, Stenella longirostris},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Population differentiation of 2 forms of Bryde’s Whales in the Indian and Pacific Oceans},

author = {Kershaw, Francine,Leslie, Matthew S,Collins, Tim,Mansur, Rubaiyat M,Smith, Brian D,Minton, Gianna,Baldwin, Robert,LeDuc, Richard G,Anderson, R Charles,Brownell, Robert L},

issn = {0022-1503},

year  = {2013},

date = {2013-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Heredity},

volume = {104},

number = {394},

pages = {755-764},

abstract = {Accurate identification of units for conservation is particularly challenging for marine species as obvious barriers to gene flow are

generally lacking. Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera spp.) are subject to multiple human-mediated stressors, including fisheries bycatch,

ship strikes, and scientific whaling by Japan. For effective management, a clear understanding of how populations of each Bryde’s

whale species/subspecies are genetically structured across their range is required. We conducted a population-level analysis of

mtDNA control region sequences with 56 new samples from Oman, Maldives, and Bangladesh, plus published sequences from

off Java and the Northwest Pacific. Nine diagnostic characters in the mitochondrial control region and a maximum parsimony

phylogenetic analysis identified 2 genetically recognized subspecies of Bryde’s whale: the larger, offshore form, Balaenoptera edeni

brydei, and the smaller, coastal form, Balaenoptera edeni edeni. Genetic diversity and differentiation indices, combined with a reconstructed

maximum parsimony haplotype network, indicate strong differences in the genetic diversity and population structure

within each subspecies. Discrete population units are identified for B. e. brydei in the Maldives, Java, and the Northwest Pacific and

for B. e. edeni between the Northern Indian Ocean (Oman and Bangladesh) and the coastal waters of Japan.},

keywords = {balaenoptera, balaenoptera edeni, bangladesh, Bryde's whale, Maldives, Oman, Speciation, taxonomy},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}