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live capture <strong>of</strong> several Indo-Pacific bottlenosedolphins was issued by <strong>the</strong> Council <strong>of</strong> Agricultureto <strong>the</strong> National Museum <strong>of</strong> Marine Biology andAquarium in 2001 (this permit was not exerciseddue to later concerns by <strong>the</strong> permittee about <strong>the</strong>uncertain conservation status <strong>of</strong> this species inTaiwanese waters).O<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong> Wildlife Conservation Law, <strong>the</strong>re arepresently no formal management arrangementsor plans for cetaceans in Taiwanese waters.Folk attitudes and interactions with marinemammalsDue to many cetacean watch tours, publiceducational programs conducted by nongovernmentalorganizations, popular articles,books and frequent media reports, publicawareness <strong>of</strong> cetaceans has increased greatly. Thisawareness has led to <strong>the</strong> reporting <strong>of</strong> manystranded cetaceans both dead and alive.The Taiwan Cetacean Society has grown in sizesince 1995 (now with more than 100 members) andseveral additional non-governmental organizationsinvolved in cetacean conservation have beenestablished. A national stranding network (TaiwanCetacean Stranding Network) was established inNovember 1996 with support from <strong>the</strong> Council<strong>of</strong> Agriculture, and a Cetacean Committee within<strong>the</strong> Society <strong>of</strong> Wildlife & Nature was establishedin January 1997. The Kuroshio Ocean EducationFoundation and Taiwan Cetacean Society werefounded in 1998. The FormosaCetus Research andConservation Group was established in 2001 toprovide an independent perspective on cetaceanconservation in Taiwan based on credible scientificresearch. Also in 2001, <strong>the</strong> Marine EducationFoundation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> National Museum <strong>of</strong> MarineBiology and Aquarium was founded.Although public attitudes towards cetaceans havechanged greatly, <strong>the</strong>re are still people who hunt,sell and consume cetacean meat. The main marketsare in Yunlin and Chiayi counties, with smallerlocal markets at fishing ports where cetaceansare still landed (e.g., Nanfang Ao). Cetaceanmeat is believed to have medicinal properties forpostpartum women.Description <strong>of</strong> existing research programsSince 1995, many works have ei<strong>the</strong>r been formallypublished in journals, presented in symposia, orappeared as <strong>the</strong>ses or governmental reports. Thesubjects include species checklists and results<strong>of</strong> surveys (Chou et al. 1995b, Yang et al. 1999,Yeh 2001, Y.-A. Chen 2001, Chou 2002, Wang etal. 1995, 2001a, 2001b), taxonomy <strong>of</strong> bottlenosedolphins (Wang 1999; Wang et al. 1999, 2000a,2000b), life history <strong>of</strong> pantropical spotted dolphins(Chu 1996), acoustics (Wu 1995,Yu 2002), physicalhabitat analysis (Chen 2001, Yeh 2001), phylogeny(Lin 1997), comparative morphology (Lin et al.1998, J.-P. Wang et al. 1998, 1999; Chen et al. 1999,Kuo et al. 2002), diet analysis (Chou et al. 1995a),chemical and heavy metal accumulations (Chen1998, Shih 2001, Chen 2002, Chen et al. 2002),whale watching impacts (Yo 2000, Kou 2002),economy and management <strong>of</strong> whale watching(Tseng 1999, Chu 1999, Chu 2002), fisheryinteractions (Chi 2001), parasitology (T.-M. Wu1996, M.-T. Wu 1997), veterinary medicine (Yang2000; T.-D. Chiu 2001; Chou 2000, 2001) and fisherydeterrence gear (Lai 2002, Chen 2001). <strong>Workshop</strong>participants noted that many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se researchresults have appeared in <strong>the</strong>ses or internal reportsand stressed <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> ensuring that <strong>the</strong>yare published in <strong>the</strong> peer-reviewed literature.Response to strandings was initiated in 1994by Chou’s group and taken over by <strong>the</strong> TaiwanCetacean Society in 2000. Currently, only <strong>the</strong> TCSand <strong>the</strong> National Museum <strong>of</strong> Marine Biology andAquarium are authorized to deal with strandings,although o<strong>the</strong>r agencies and groups assist with <strong>the</strong>work. Biological samples from stranded animals<strong>Second</strong> <strong>Workshop</strong> on <strong>the</strong> Biology and Conservation <strong>of</strong> Small Cetaceans and Dugongs <strong>of</strong> SE Asia 35
are supplied to scholars and organizations forvarious research purposes. The rehabilitation <strong>of</strong>live-stranded cetaceans started in 1997. Twodolphins (a male Risso’s dolphin and a malerough-too<strong>the</strong>d dolphin) were released in 2000 and2002, respectively.Museum <strong>of</strong> Marine Biology and Aquarium –NMMBA (Pingtung County). There are also displayspecimens at numerous institutions throughoutTaiwan (e.g., Kenting National Park; Ocean World,Taipei). A list <strong>of</strong> all specimens is being collated byY.-J. Chen, Collections Manager <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> NMNS.Wang reported that FormosaCetus Research andConservation Group has been studying a smallgroup <strong>of</strong> Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins insou<strong>the</strong>rn Taiwan since 2000. This is a long-termproject with <strong>the</strong> aim <strong>of</strong> obtaining basic biologicalinformation on <strong>the</strong> species in <strong>the</strong> region. Also,FormosaCetus, in collaboration with S.K.Y. Hung<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hong Kong Cetacean Research Project,conducted <strong>the</strong> first cetacean survey <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> coastalwaters <strong>of</strong> western Taiwan in June 2002. Thissurvey confirmed that <strong>the</strong> Indo-Pacific humpbackdolphin is a major component <strong>of</strong> western Taiwan’scetacean fauna—not a vagrant or an unusualinhabitant. Fur<strong>the</strong>r studies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cetaceans <strong>of</strong>western Taiwan are planned for 2003. Geneticanalyses <strong>of</strong> Taiwan’s bottlenose dolphins arebeing conducted by J.Y. Wang and L. Moller(Yale University). The prevalence <strong>of</strong> morbillivirusin stranded cetaceans is being investigated incollaboration with J.-Y. Liao, veterinarian at<strong>the</strong> National Museum <strong>of</strong> Marine Biology andAquarium. Most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> funding for this group’swork is obtained from sources outside Taiwan—e.g., Ocean Park Conservation Foundation in HongKong.Needs for additional researchRescuing stranded cetaceans and investigating<strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> eco-tourism have been <strong>the</strong> mainfoci <strong>of</strong> cetacean conservation in Taiwan untilrecently. Although programs <strong>of</strong> research toassess populations and address by-catch havebegun, funding has been inadequate. Informationabout <strong>the</strong> population structure, population size,and levels <strong>of</strong> mortality caused by fisheries is <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> highest priority for cetacean conservation inTaiwan. Clearly those species that are especiallyprone to fatal interactions with fisheries should begiven greatest attention. In addition, more workis needed to obtain basic biological information(e.g., distribution, reproductive biology, homerange, movement patterns, etc.) for all species.As part <strong>of</strong> understanding <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> mortalitycaused by fisheries, an updated inventory <strong>of</strong> allfisheries, <strong>the</strong> gear types used and <strong>the</strong> methods <strong>of</strong>operation is needed. Although <strong>the</strong>re is concernabout <strong>the</strong> potential disturbance caused by <strong>the</strong>rapidly expanding whale watching industry inTaiwan, this is clearly a-low priority comparedto <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> cetacean mortality caused byfisheriesThe main depository for skeleton specimens is <strong>the</strong>National Museum <strong>of</strong> Natural Sciences – NMNS(Taichung – with several hundred specimens <strong>of</strong>most species confirmed from Taiwan). O<strong>the</strong>rinstitutions with collections include: NationalTaiwan Ocean University – NTOU (Keelung);Wang’s laboratory at <strong>the</strong> National Cheng-KungUniversity – NCKU (Taiwan); Chou’s laboratoryat <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Zoology, National TaiwanUniversity – NTU (Taipei); and <strong>the</strong> NationalPresent and potential whale and dolphinwatching operationsFollowing shipboard-surveys conducted by Choualong <strong>the</strong> coast <strong>of</strong> Hualien County (central easternTaiwan) in 1996 and o<strong>the</strong>rs in 1997 (Yang etal. 1999), whale watching started at Shihti portin 1997. The number <strong>of</strong> whale watching boatsincreased from one in 1997 to 33 in 2001 along<strong>the</strong> entire coast, with 90% operating in easterncoastal waters. Chou reported that <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong>36 CMS Technical Series Publication Nº 9 - 2005
Page 1 and 2: CMS Technical Series Publication N
Page 3 and 4: Published by the U
Page 5 and 6: TABLE OF CONTENTSpage1. Preliminari
Page 7 and 8: AppendicesAppendix 1 - List <strong
Page 9 and 10: 8 CMS Technical Series Publication
Page 11 and 12: 10 CMS Technical Series Publication
Page 13 and 14: The cetacean species reviewed inclu
Page 15 and 16: Table 1. Major commercial Commonwea
Page 17 and 18: (2) State Legislation.In state wate
Page 19 and 20: (2) Identification of</stro
Page 21 and 22: Coastal speciesThe most frequently
Page 23 and 24: Coastal speciesThere are currently
Page 25 and 26: and Guangxi Provinces (Yang et al.
Page 27 and 28: Table 3. Records of</strong
Page 29 and 30: can be viewed as the</stron
Page 31 and 32: Workshop participa
Page 33 and 34: ioaccumulation have not yet been ex
Page 35: of fishermen who h
Page 39 and 40: threats. Many marine mammal populat
Page 42: waters or recognize important inter
Page 47 and 48: James Cook University (Queensland,
Page 49 and 50: the last ten years
Page 51 and 52: proactive in engaging more staff an
Page 53 and 54: of SE Asia. Two sp
Page 55 and 56: San Francisco (Negros Oriental); Li
Page 57 and 58: Legal status and present management
Page 59 and 60: within 15 kilometers from t
Page 61 and 62: US, has actively participated in ce
Page 63 and 64: the project was su
Page 65 and 66: Recently, the camp
Page 67 and 68: Mekong River downstream of<
Page 69 and 70: porpoises in tropical waters <stron
Page 71 and 72: species in the Ind
Page 73 and 74: Population/stock structureNo new in
Page 75 and 76: Needs for additional researchStock
Page 77 and 78: waters of SE Asia,
Page 79 and 80: caused mortality is certainly large
Page 81 and 82: Needs for additional researchProper
Page 83 and 84: from SE Asia, it is known to occur
Page 85 and 86: 3.1.7 AustraliaDugongs occur all al
Page 87 and 88:
Table 8. Conservation objectives id
Page 89 and 90:
3) Monitoring and assessment <stron
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Table 10. Outline of</stron
Page 93 and 94:
The group agreed that this set <str
Page 95 and 96:
6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONSThe works
Page 97 and 98:
96 CMS Technical Series Publication
Page 99 and 100:
Bank, E. 1931. A popular account <s
Page 101 and 102:
Dalebout, M. L., J. G. Mead, C. Sco
Page 103 and 104:
Jaaman, S. A., E. Tangon, I. Isnain
Page 105 and 106:
Lin, Y.-J. 1997. Mitochondrial DNA
Page 107 and 108:
Smith, B.D., T. A. Jefferson, D. Ho
Page 109 and 110:
Yang, W.-C. 2000. Morbillivirus inf
Page 111 and 112:
CHOU Lien-SiangDepartment o
Page 113 and 114:
Brian D. SMITHWildlife Conservation
Page 115 and 116:
APPENDIX 3Agenda1. Preliminaries2.
Page 117 and 118:
Doc. 22 Dugong conservation activit
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AreaDatesSurveyTypeEffortSpeciesNo.
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Page 123 and 124:
Page 125 and 126:
Phase ofActionPlan
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[Small cetaceans are defined to inc
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f) recognizing that by-catch in fis
Page 131 and 132:
130 CMS Technical Series Publicatio
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APPENDIX 9Abstracts of</str
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The (IUCN Critically Endangered) Du
Page 137 and 138:
Status of
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Cetacean Habitats in the</s
Page 141 and 142:
Conservation of <s
Page 143 and 144:
Summary of Current
Page 145 and 146:
Indonesia’s Cetacean Migration Co
Page 147 and 148:
Conservation Effort to Protect <str
Page 149 and 150:
The Status of <str
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Can the Developing
Page 153 and 154:
Status and Conservation of<
Page 155 and 156:
Legal Hunting of C
Page 157 and 158:
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins (T
Page 159 and 160:
Feasibility Study of</stron
Page 161 and 162:
Songs of a Humpbac
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