Partnership Fund Projects

5. SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF TWO THREATENED INDUS DELTA DOLPHIN SPECIES, INDO-PACIFIC HUMPBACK AND INDO-PACIFIC BOTTLENOSE

The project is being implemented by Marine Conservation International (MCI) with the support of Partnership Fund at Indus Delta and adjacent coastal area of Sindh. The project aims at achieving sustainable use of the estuarine and marine resources and biodiversity of the selected areas specifically in relation to threatened Dolphin species. The project’s specific objectives are

(i) determining details of the population abundance, seasonal movements and behavior of the marine cetaceans Indo-Pacific humpback (Sousa chinensis) and Indo-Pacific bottlenose (Tursiops aduncus) along the Sindh coastline,

(ii) determining the nature and events of threats to these species,

(iii) raising awareness and maintaining interest in conservation of marine cetaceans and their habitat among the fishers in the area and to support wildlife/ecotourism efforts in the local communities related to marine cetaceans and their habitat and

(iv) bringing about more protection for marine cetaceans and moving towar ds a cleaner, more sustainable environment.

Key achievements:
Increased awareness of the need for conservation of marine cetaceans and their habitat; measures are taken to secure a sustainable population of humpback and bottlenose dolphin species; database on the population parameters for these species is available; reports, scientific and popular level publications are prepared and two dolphin watching enterprises are in practice.