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

6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONSThe workshop agreed to <strong>the</strong> following conclusionsand recommendations:6.1 By-catch1) By-catch <strong>of</strong> cetaceans and dugongs in fisheriesis a large and growing problem in SE Asia. Unlessthis problem is addressed in an immediate,aggressive manner, major losses <strong>of</strong> biodiversityare inevitable. Such losses are more than aes<strong>the</strong>ticor academic; <strong>the</strong>y eliminate future options forsustainable use, simplify ecosystem structure,and increase <strong>the</strong> risk <strong>of</strong> catastrophic declines inmarine productivity, with severe implications forfood security.2) A Regional Action Plan to address by-catch <strong>of</strong>small cetaceans and dugongs in SE Asia is bothfeasible and desirable. Such a plan should bedeveloped and implemented in a phased manner,beginning with a public awareness and educationphase.3) While valuable information on by-catchhas been obtained from rigorous interview/questionnaire studies, accurate assessment <strong>of</strong>by-catch levels is generally impossible withoutindependent on-board or site-based directobservation at a statistically appropriate scale.4) To complement data on by-catch, per se, itis important to develop accurate quantitativeinformation on characteristics <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fishingindustry e.g., fleet size, temporal and spatialallocation <strong>of</strong> effort by gear type, etc. The table <strong>of</strong>data provided to <strong>the</strong> workshop by Australia (Table1) provides a good model.5) Some approaches to by-catch mitigation willneed to be fishery-specific, e.g., <strong>the</strong> matangquatro crab nets affecting Irrawaddy dolphins inMalampaya Sound, Philippines.6.2 Additional Conservation Threats1) The expansion <strong>of</strong> live-capture operationsdirected at vulnerable coastal and riverine smallcetaceans may be contributing to <strong>the</strong> depletion<strong>of</strong> some local populations. While it is recognizedthat exposure to cetaceans in captivity may havesome long term benefits, such as potentiallyraising public awareness regarding cetaceansand <strong>the</strong>ir conservation, <strong>the</strong> frequent claims bylive-capture proponents that <strong>the</strong>ir facilities areengaged in “captive breeding” for conservationare generally unfounded and misleading. (Aprovisional list <strong>of</strong> facilities holding smallcetaceans or dugongs in SE Asia is given inAppendix 8).2) “Tiger nets” set in movement passages inIndonesia pose a clear, undeniable threat topopulations <strong>of</strong> cetaceans and o<strong>the</strong>r large marineorganisms. Such nets are, by <strong>the</strong>ir very essence,highly damaging to <strong>the</strong> environment, and <strong>the</strong>iruse should be prohibited.3) The recent evidence linking military sonaractivities to lethal mass strandings <strong>of</strong> beakedwhales gives cause for concern about similaractivities in SE Asian waters. Some kind <strong>of</strong> riskassessment should be undertaken, and appropriatemitigation measures should be identified andimplemented.6.3 Regional Cooperation andEducation1) The 1995 workshop provided a useful stimulusto collaboration and cooperation in SE Asianmarine mammal research, and contributions to<strong>the</strong> 2002 workshop reflect <strong>the</strong> vast amount <strong>of</strong>new knowledge that has resulted. Among <strong>the</strong>94 CMS Technical Series Publication Nº 9 - 2005