Preventing Bycatch of Irrawaddy Dolphins in the Mekong River
Irrawaddy dolphins live in both saltwater and freshwater in South and Southeast Asia. They are widespread in coastal areas, but they now only survive in three rivers – the Mekong in Cambodia and Lao PDR, the Mahakam in Indonesia, and the Ayeyarwaddy in Myanmar. The population in each of these rivers is thought to be less than 100 dolphins and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species describes these three river populations as Critically Endangered.
The population in the Mekong is estimated to be 75 adults. Research shows that the population is slowly declining and the mortality rate is unsustainably high. In the last 10 years at least 115 dolphins have died, an average of nearly one per month. Fishermen along the Mekong use gillnets to fish and unfortunately dolphins are occasionally caught in them as bycatch. The purpose of this project is to reduce the number of dolphins that die in gillnets each year.
In 2006 the Cambodian government created the Dolphin Commission to protect Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River. The Dolphin Commission now has 17 ranger posts along the river and more than 70 rangers patrolling the river to prevent the use of gillnets in dolphin protection zones. This grant from SOS - Save Our Species will enable the project team to provide training, equipment, and fuel to allow more frequent and effective ranger patrols. The rangers have to patrol nearly 200 km of river, often at night, so they have a difficult and dangerous job. This grant will provide them with radios, GPS units, cameras, and other needed equipment.
The Cambodian government recently passed a law preventing the use of gillnets in large stretches of the Mekong River. This was an important step toward the conservation of dolphins, but the new law must be backed up with strong enforcement by rangers and supported by local communities.The project team is working with local NGOs in Cambodia to conduct education and outreach about dolphin conservation and to provide fishermen alternative ways to find food and income so they are not so dependent on using gillnets.
The overall goal of this project is to stop the decline and eventually increase the population of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River. The mortality rate of nealry one dolphin per month, must be reduced if this population is to recover.
The first step toward achieving this is by eliminating dolphin deaths in gillnets in 2013 and 2014, the period supported by this grant. To achieve that the project team will provide training, equipment, and supplies to more than 70 rangers in 17 posts along the Mekong River.
More photographs of this beautiful dolphin species!
UNIQUE DORSAL FINS HELP IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS
IRRAWADDY DOLPHINS KNOWN TO USE ECHOLOCATION WHILE HUNTING
Un investissement dans le logiciel SMART pour combattre les délits contre les espèces sauvages
« Innovations perturbatrices » n’est pas une expression que nous associons généralement à l’application de la loi sur la faune. Depuis plusieurs décennies, les opérations de lutte contre le braconnage...
Cambodian government shows commitment to dolphin protection by burning confiscated gillnets
The Cambodian Fisheries Administration (FiA) destroyed nearly 60,000 metres of confiscated gillnets in two gillnet burning ceremonies held on 6 and 7 February 2014. This was a clear demonstration of t...
From policy to action: thanks to SOS support, enforcement equipment and training make protection for the Mekong Dolphins all the more so tangible.
Irrawaddy dolphins can live in both saltwater and freshwater. However while they are widespread in coastal areas, they now survive in three rivers only. With fewer than 100 dolphins and unsustainable...