Protecting Asian River Dolphins

Reserves, Ecotourism Aid Critically Endangered Dolphin Populations

Oct 15, 2007

Cooperation between fishermen and river dolphins leads to habitat protection in Myanmar. Ecotourism in Burma based on dolphins and humans fishing together benefits both.

Two populations of the Irrawaddy River Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) are finally being rewarded for years of cooperation with humans. In Myanmar, the Ayeyarwady River population and their partner fishermen will benefit from a protected area along 70 kilometers of the river. The Wildlife Conservation Society of Burma and the Burmese Ministry of Fisheries are working together to develop an ecotourism program to benefit both the dolphins and the local community.

Irrawaddy River Dolphin Status

While overall the Irrawaddy River Dolphin is listed as Data Deficient, most populations that have been properly surveyed are considered critically endangered by the IUCN. The Ayeyarwady population is one of those. Illegal electrofishing, mercury poisoning from gold mining and gill net entanglement are all affecting the dolphins. Dam building, river traffic and pollution have added to the impacts on the species.

Cambodia’s Mekong River population has declined by 4.8 percent each year, largely due to the unexplained deaths of most newborns, who are lost within a few weeks of birth. A recent ban on gill net fishing does appear to be having a positive impact on this population. In Indonesia 80% of dolphins killed along the Mahakam River are gill net victims.

Ayeyarwady River Cooperative Fishing

But the 60 to 75 animals living in the Ayeyarwady River are getting special protection, thanks to having fished cooperatively with the local humans for many years. The fishermen here call the dolphins, who herd fish into nets. The fishermen catch more fish with less effort and the dolphins find it easier to feed on the fish pushed into the shallow waters, as well as being allowed to take a few from the nets.

Because this is such a positive situation for the local people, the dolphins and the government, gold mining has also been banned in the area to prevent secondary pollution. A recent survey showed that the ban was working, perhaps in part because the livelihood of the local people is ensured. And because of the help of the dolphins, gill net fishing is not necessary so another threat is removed.

Ecotourism in Burma

In Burma, the Myesaun village fishermen also work with the dolphins to catch fish. A much smaller group (12 to 18 animals) works with an equally small group of fishermen. And their work is the subject of an ecotourism program. Visitors travel upriver from Mandalay and spend time in the village hosted by local families. They are then able to watch the fishermen and dolphins communicate. The fishermen use a guttural call or tap on the sides of their boats while the dolphins use their flukes to indicated the direction to cast the nets as well as to indicate where to go to find the fish.

Tourist numbers are limited and can take several months to get permission to go but if this project is successful it may well lead to similar ventures in other areas where cooperative dolphin-human fishing is practiced.

For more on the threats dolphins around the world are facing read: Dolphin Conservation

The copyright of the article Protecting Asian River Dolphins in Endangered Species is owned by Dawn M. Smith. Permission to republish Protecting Asian River Dolphins in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.