Cetacean Conservation

Cetacean Monitoring & Conservation

Marinelife Alliance local sea turtle monitoring staff regularly record live or dead cetaceans, and whale sharks. Local offshore fishermen also report of sightings of dolphins, non-nesting sea turtle an whale sharks if they encounter in fishing or observed dead at sea or bycatch incidence. All MLA local Conservation Assistants and Research assistants have been trained to identify cetacean species and whale sharks along with rare sea turtle non nesting and stranding individuals. Identification guide of Bay of Bengal cetaceans and whale shark have been provided to all CA and offshore fisher’s. Sea Turtle, cetaceans and whale sharks are major marine megafauna group discussed in the bycatch reduction awareness and training program. Offshore fishers help getting information and provide information regarding other marine megafauna sighting and bycatch. Our local CA recorded at least 6 species of cetaceans dead body those washed ashore, viz., Irrawaddy dolphins, indo pacific humpback dolphins, bottlenose dolphin, spinner dolphin, finless porpoise and Risso’s dolphin as a new record for Bangladesh (Islam, 2015) and Offshore fisher’s released small dolphins live from drifting gill nets. The Whale sharks are internationally endangered species and included in CITES, appendix-1, but in Bangladesh fisheries department never emphasized and protections of this magnificent species. As part of monitoring and conservation we rescued 2 times adult whale sharks. It was difficult to insist fishermen to refrain from whale shark fishing since there is no government or official order. Dolphin foraging habitat recorded along Cox’s Bazar coast from Kutubdia west to south Sahporirdwip nearshore area. Within the last 2 decades habitat lost at Bakkhali river mouth and Naf River estuary due to Coastal Set Bag Net (CSBN). We record every single dead washed; also live sightings whenever possible by fisher’s and local people throughout the year.

Figure.9.1.Indo pacific humpback dolphins swimming along coast of village, Sonadia island, (top), Risso’s dolphin washed ashore at cox Bazar, cetacean ID Guide (right), rescuing whale shark from fisher’s (below).

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Shark Finning

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