Report of the Second Workshop on The Biology and Conservation of ...

Directed catchesWang reported that a specimen <strong>of</strong> M. densirostrisat <strong>the</strong> National Museum <strong>of</strong> Natural Science inTaiwan was probably from a directed take, andthat Mesoplodon spp. (both M. gingkodens andM. densirostris) are occasionally harpooned inTaiwan (Doc. 6).By-catchesLarge numbers <strong>of</strong> beaked whales (perhaps asmany as 100 per year) may be taken in large-meshdriftnets in Taiwan, according to Wang. As manyas 100 per year were reported by one driftnetter—<strong>the</strong> fisherman’s identification <strong>of</strong> carcasses asbeaked whales was considered reliable basedon his descriptions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> animals’ large size,indistinct beak and <strong>the</strong> purgative properties <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>blubber).species strands frequently in Taiwan (Wang et al.1995).Population/stock structureNo new information.Population statusNo new information.Habitat statusIn light <strong>of</strong> recent mass mortality incidents inGreece and <strong>the</strong> Bahamas, special attention shouldbe paid to <strong>the</strong> potential acoustic impacts <strong>of</strong>military activities.Directed catchesZiphius may have been harpooned in <strong>the</strong> past inTaiwan (Doc. 6).Needs for additional researchA habitat approach should be taken in assessing <strong>the</strong>species diversity and abundance <strong>of</strong> beaked whalesin SE Asia. Also, <strong>the</strong> potential effects <strong>of</strong> submarinedisposal <strong>of</strong> mining wastes on <strong>the</strong> habitat <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>se animals should be evaluated. Whale-templespecimens in Vietnam represent a promisingsource <strong>of</strong> information on ziphiid distribution inthat area, and <strong>the</strong>y should be systematicallyexamined and catalogued. Species identifications<strong>of</strong> specimens at whale temples (and in museums)should be confirmed, most appropriately bymolecular genetic techniques (see Dalebout 2002,Dalebout et al. 2002).2.2.20 Ziphius cavirostrisDistributionCuvier’s beaked whale was recently added to<strong>the</strong> fauna <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Andaman Sea, confirming itsoccurrence in Thai waters (Doc. 31). It has alsobeen confirmed in Malaysian (Doc. 10; Jaamanet al. 2000c) and Philippine waters (Doc. 25). ThisBy-catchesThere is a record <strong>of</strong> a Cuvier’s beaked whale bycatchin <strong>the</strong> driftnet fishery in <strong>the</strong> Philippines andpossible records in Taiwan (Doc. 6).Needs for additional researchStudies focused on likely Ziphius habitat in SEAsia should be considered. The possible effects<strong>of</strong> submarine disposal <strong>of</strong> mining wastes on <strong>the</strong>seanimals should also be evaluated.2.2.21 Indopacetus pacificusDistributionIn <strong>the</strong> 1995 workshop report, records <strong>of</strong> “tropicalbottlenose whales” in <strong>the</strong> Indo-Pacific were listedunder Hyperoodon sp., due to uncertainty in <strong>the</strong>taxonomy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se animals at <strong>the</strong> time. Recentwork, however, has shown <strong>the</strong>se animals to beLongman’s beaked whales (Pitman et al. 1999;Dalebout 2002). Records <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> species are knownfrom a band extending from about 10 o S to about40 o N in <strong>the</strong> Indian and Pacific oceans. While<strong>the</strong>re are no confirmed records <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> species<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 81