Dear All,
I like to announce the publication of the
REPORT OF THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH NEEDS
OF THE EASTERN TAIWAN STRAIT POPULATION OF INDO-PACIFIC HUMPBACK DOLPHINS,
SOUSA CHINENSIS
The following report (~1MB) and a separate conservation action plan (~220 KB)
(which is also included as an appendix in the workshop report so you don't need
to download the action plan if you are downloading the full report) can be
obtained at:
http://activity.nmmba.gov.tw/whitedolphine2/download_e.htm
The workshop was held in Changhua City, Taiwan in early September 2007; below
is a short summary.
Taiwan’s Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) face imminent
extinction if measures are not taken to protect them and their habitat from a
number of serious threats. The recent demise of the baiji (Lipotes vexillifer)
in China’s Yangtze River gives a particular sense of urgency to concerns about
the fate of Taiwan’s humpback dolphins. The humpback dolphin is a fish-eating
mammal that lives in shallow estuaries and nearshore waters and is especially
vulnerable because it relies on habitat at the interface of land and sea.
Research suggests that humpback dolphins residing in the eastern Taiwan Strait
(=waters of western Taiwan) comprise a distinct population of less than 100
individuals.
The eastern Taiwan Strait humpback dolphins were the focus of an international
workshop held in ChanghuaCity (Taiwan) on 4-7 September 2007. Participants
included local dolphin researchers, conservationists and marine engineers, as
well as experts from Canada, the United States, Japan, Brazil, United Kingdom
and Hong Kong. Officials from government agencies, representatives of academic
institutions and members of local conservation groups provided a grim picture
of the state of the coastal marine environment along the west coast of Taiwan.
Five major threats were identified: reduced river flow into estuaries, habitat
loss, entanglement in fishing gear, industrial and municipal pollutant
discharges, and underwater noise.
The expert group called on the Taiwanese government to proceed with a formal
and public declaration of important habitat for the humpback dolphins; carry
out public and transparent evaluations of existing and planned projects that
may have impacts on the humpback dolphins and their habitat; mitigate such
impacts using best available methods; prohibit the use of gill nets and trammel
nets in nearshore waters; limit tourism focused on humpback dolphin-watching to
shore-based platforms (including provision of public access to degraded
habitat, thus promoting support for clean-up programs); and disclose pollutant
concentrations and other environmental data.Only through the concerted efforts
of individuals, organizations, central and local government agencies and
industry will the distinct eastern Taiwan Strait humpback dolphins survive.
Cheers,
John
John Y. Wang, Ph.D.
(Member of the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group)
FormosaCetus Research and Conservation Group
310-7250 Yonge Street
Thornhill, Ontario, CANADA, L4J-7X1
AND
(Adjunct Researcher)
National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium
2 Houwan Road
Checheng, Pingtung County, 944, TAIWAN
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