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private individuals may collect dolphin skeletonsas curiosities for people to come and admire.Needs for additional researchAn immediate need is to conduct research on andsurvey <strong>the</strong> Irrawaddy dolphins in Songkhla Lake.Surveys <strong>of</strong> marine mammals are needed in both <strong>the</strong>Gulf <strong>of</strong> Thailand and <strong>the</strong> Andaman Sea. There is aneed for improved skills in species identification.Also needed are studies <strong>of</strong> biology and behavior <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> identified populations, monitoring <strong>of</strong> by-catchin fisheries, genetic population studies, and studies<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> habitat degradation. There is alsoa need to improve <strong>the</strong> current stranding networkand increase conservation awareness among <strong>the</strong>general public. For example, <strong>the</strong>re was one report<strong>of</strong> live stranding <strong>of</strong> more than ten animals, butonly two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m were returned to <strong>the</strong> sea.unconfirmed sighting and many reports fromfishermen, likely occur in <strong>the</strong> Ma River mouthsouth <strong>of</strong> Haiphong (Smith et al. 1995, 1997). Smithand Braulik reported seeing what were possiblydwarf spinner dolphins in Halong Bay. However,most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> specimens recorded in whale templesin South-Central Vietnam were <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> larger S.l. longirostris (Smith et al. 1995, 1997). A singleIrrawaddy dolphin was caught in a fishing net in<strong>the</strong> Tien tributary near <strong>the</strong> Cambodian border on2 March 2002. This was <strong>the</strong> first confirmed recordfrom this region <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Vietnamese Mekong.A single Irrawaddy dolphin was caught in a fishingnet in <strong>the</strong> Tien tributary near <strong>the</strong> Cambodian borderon 2 March 2002. This was <strong>the</strong> first confirmedrecord from this region <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> VietnameseMekong.Present and potential whale and dolphinwatching operationsDolphin watching for bottlenose dolphins at Khaiand Maithon Islands, Phuket, has been discussedbut not yet established. There is potential fordolphin watching tours at Songkhla Lake. Thenor<strong>the</strong>rn part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lake holds large water birdpopulations, <strong>of</strong>fering <strong>the</strong> possibility <strong>of</strong> combinednature tours.2.1.12 VietnamBui, Dao and Braulik summarized informationavailable in Doc. 3 and Doc. 4. Additionalinformation was provided by Smith and Hines andcame from <strong>the</strong> references cited below.Species and distributionCetaceans that can be added to <strong>the</strong> species listincluded in <strong>the</strong> 1995 report include Fraser’s andstriped dolphins. Indo-Pacific humpback dolphinsare regularly observed in <strong>the</strong> Nam Trieu Rivermouth near Haiphong, have been seen in BinCang Bay near Nha Trang and based on anDugongs are currently known from north <strong>of</strong>Halong Bay near <strong>the</strong> Chinese border, and asingle skull is housed at <strong>the</strong> Haiphong Institute<strong>of</strong> Oceanography. Five skulls are also depositedat five different whale temples in <strong>the</strong> Nha Trangarea <strong>of</strong> South-Central Vietnam (Smith et al.1995, 1997). In 1997, three dugongs were caughtaccidentally by fishermen in <strong>the</strong> Con Dao Islandsin sou<strong>the</strong>rn Vietnam (two were released alive), andNational Park <strong>of</strong>ficials estimated that <strong>the</strong>re were8-12 individuals near <strong>the</strong> Islands. Hines reportedthat at least six dugong skulls were observed atone dugong hunter’s home in Phu Quoc Island.Population statusThere are no abundance estimates for any speciesin Vietnamese waters. However, sighting surveysduring March, April, and October 1995, October1999, and April 2000 (Smith et al. 1995, 1997; Smithand Braulik, unpublished data) in various areasalong <strong>the</strong> coast <strong>of</strong> Vietnam resulted in extremelylow encounter rates. Also, no Irrawaddy dolphinswere sighted within <strong>the</strong>ir historical range duringa survey in April 1996 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> entire length <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><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 65
Mekong River downstream <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cambodianborder, covering both Tien and Hau distributaries(Smith et al. 1997).Habitat statusDynamite and cyanide fishing occur frequentlyand appear to be increasing. Smith and Braulikreported that pushnet fishermen were observedusing dynamite on many occasions inside HalongBay (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) during surveysin October 1999 and April 2000. Both dynamiteand cyanide fishing are illegal in Vietnam butenforcement is virtually non-existent. Overfishingfrom trawlers, gillnetters, and longliners appearsto be a serious problem and may be affecting <strong>the</strong>availability <strong>of</strong> prey for cetaceans.There has been a serious decline in <strong>the</strong> extentand quality <strong>of</strong> sea grass beds in many places. Thereasons for <strong>the</strong> decline have not been studied butare probably related to destructive fishing practicesand increasing sedimentation.Directed catchesDirected catches <strong>of</strong> cetaceans are rare in Vietnamdue to <strong>the</strong> animals’ venerated status amongfishermen. However, Smith et al. (1995, 1997)reported that dolphin meat is occasionally sold in<strong>the</strong> fish market on Cat Ba Island, and a newspaperarticle entitled ‘killing <strong>of</strong> a dolphin in HalongTourist Area’ stated that a dolphin weighing 300kgwas shot and brought to <strong>the</strong> beach by a hunterwho stated that <strong>the</strong> animal could be sold for <strong>the</strong>equivalent <strong>of</strong> approximately US$20. Dugongs arehunted, at least from Phu Quoc Island near <strong>the</strong>Cambodian border.By-catchesNo information is available on cetacean by-catchlevels. During an at-sea survey in April 2000 apartial carcass <strong>of</strong> a finless porpoise was foundfloating next to a gill net. The cut was extremelyclean, suggesting that <strong>the</strong> animal may havebeen cut after its tail had become entangledin a gillnet. Interviews with fishermen indicatedthat gillnets kill cetaceans more <strong>of</strong>ten than o<strong>the</strong>rfishing techniques but that by-catch rates werelow, perhaps due to <strong>the</strong> low density <strong>of</strong> cetaceans inVietnamese waters.Braulik reported that animals by-caught in northcentralVietnam were <strong>of</strong>ten sold in <strong>the</strong> market. Hinesadded that dolphins have been reported caught innets and that flukes were cut <strong>of</strong>f to prevent <strong>the</strong> netsfrom being destroyed.Legal status and present managementarrangementsCetaceans are currently protected by a decree <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> national assembly but this is not generallyenforced. During <strong>the</strong> last three years <strong>the</strong>Vietnamese government has been drafting a newlaw that will give authorities greater power toenforce fishery regulations. This law is expected tobe approved by <strong>the</strong> national assembly in <strong>the</strong> nearfuture. Under this law dugongs are considered<strong>the</strong> same as cetaceans. The government alsoapproved a national biodiversity action plan in1995 that includes improved provisions for <strong>the</strong>establishment <strong>of</strong> marine protected areas. The ConDao National Park was established in 1985. Itincludes <strong>the</strong> Con Dao Islands and <strong>the</strong> surrounding14,000 ha <strong>of</strong> ocean. The park provides protectionfor a range <strong>of</strong> endangered species, including <strong>the</strong>dugong.Folk attitudes and interactions with marinemammalsVietnamese fishermen venerate cetaceans because<strong>the</strong>y believe <strong>the</strong> animals will aid <strong>the</strong>m when <strong>the</strong>yare in distress at sea and help <strong>the</strong>m catch morefish. Along <strong>the</strong> coast <strong>of</strong> south and central Vietnamfishermen build whale temples where <strong>the</strong>y depositwhale and dolphin bones for worship. In <strong>the</strong>Mekong Delta, <strong>the</strong> villagers <strong>of</strong> Thoi Thuan holda ‘whale festival.’ During <strong>the</strong> festival, <strong>the</strong> entire66 CMS Technical Series Publication Nº 9 - 2005
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CMS Technical Series Publication N
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Published by the U
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TABLE OF CONTENTSpage1. Preliminari
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AppendicesAppendix 1 - List <strong
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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 and 36: of fishermen who h
Page 37 and 38: are supplied to scholars and organi
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: Recently, the camp
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
Page 91 and 92: 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.
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Doc. 22 Dugong conservation activit
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AreaDatesSurveyTypeEffortSpeciesNo.
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Phase ofActionPlan
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[Small cetaceans are defined to inc
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f) recognizing that by-catch in fis
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APPENDIX 9Abstracts of</str
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The (IUCN Critically Endangered) Du
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Status of
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Cetacean Habitats in the</s
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Conservation of <s
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Summary of Current
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Indonesia’s Cetacean Migration Co
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Conservation Effort to Protect <str
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The Status of <str
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Can the Developing
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Status and Conservation of<
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Legal Hunting of C
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Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins (T
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Feasibility Study of</stron
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Songs of a Humpbac
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