Marine Mammal Conservation Corridor for Northern South America (MaMa CoCo Sea) Follow-Up Workshop March Paramaribo, Suriname

Transcription

1 Marine Mammal Conservation Corridor for Northern South America (MaMa CoCo Sea) Follow-Up Workshop March Paramaribo, Suriname

2 1. New data on marine mammal populations in French Guiana and regional context 2. Shared common challenges 3. Interest of developing synergies and facilitating cooperation 4. Facing common issues of development 5. A vital regional approach for conservation

3 New data on marine mammal populations in French Guiana and regional context

4 New data on marine mammal populations in French Guiana and regional context

5 New data on marine mammal populations in French Guiana and regional context

6 Shared common challenges numerous species shared by countries One specie of sirenian : Trichechus manatus Manatee SPAW regional plan updated in 2010

7 Shared common challenges numerous species shared by countries Scientific name Balaenoptera acutorostrata Balaenoptera bonaerensis Balaenoptera borealis Balaenoptera edeni Balaenoptera musculus Balaenoptera physalus Delphinus capensis Delphinus delphis Feresa attenuata Globicephala macrorhynchus Grampus griseus Kogia breviceps Kogia simus Lagenodelphis hosei Megaptera novaeangliae Mesoplodon densirostris Mesoplodon europaeus Trichechus manatus Orcinus orca Peponocephala electra Physeter macrocephalus Pseudorca crassidens Sotalia guianensis Stenella attenuata Stenella clymene Stenella coeruleoalba Stenella frontalis Stenella longirostris Steno bredanensis Tursiops truncatus Ziphius cavirostris Vernacular name Minke whale Antarctic minke whale Sei whale Bryde s whale Blue whale Fin whale Common dolphin Common dolphin Pygmy killer whale Short-finned pilot whale Risso s dolphin Pygmy sperm whale Dwarf sperm whale Fraser s dolphin Humpback whale Blainville s beaked whale Gervais beaked whale West Indian manatee Killer whale Melon-headed whale Sperm whale False killer whale Guiana dolphin Pantropical spotted dolphin Clymene dolphin Striped dolphin Atlantic spotted dolphin Spinner dolphin Rough-toothed dolphin Common bottlenose dolphin Cuvier s beaked whale 30 cetacean species : - 7 mysticetes species - 23 odontocetes species Balaenoptera musculus Tursiops truncatus

8 Shared common challenges numerous species shared by countries One species is particularly important as it is endemic to northeastern Latin America: the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis).

9 Shared common challenges species with vulnerable status Species included on the international red list of threatened species 3 species are registered as endangered Sei whale Blue whale Fin whale 2 species are listed as vulnerable Sperm whale West Indian manatee Species covered by international conventions 9 species are listed on appendix 1 9 species are listed on appendix 2 All species on SPAW protocol

10 Shared common challenges Need to improve and pool knowledge of species A wealth of data in Brazil, but very little in the northeast of the country Little knowledge in French Guiana, but some very interesting recent work Few documents for Surinam, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago Marine mammals well documented in Venezuela This initial review of knowledge shows the importance and the need for a regional cooperation project to support efforts that must be continued to achieve more detailed knowledge. Inventories and studies could be pursued Cooperation between national research institution could be improved Data and information sharing could be facilitated Conservation and sustainable development programmes existing could be combined

11 Interest of developing synergies and facilitating cooperation Existing cetacean conservation tools and networks Tools Latin American cooperation strategy for the conservation of cetaceans signed in december 2007 by several countries in South America with the aim of promoting growing coordinated action between South American countries already members of the IWC Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Supported a study of the La Plata dolphin Organized workshop on Priority Conservation and Research on Aquatic Mammals in Latin America in October 2002 technical report on small cetaceans in Latin America was published

12 Interest of developing synergies and facilitating cooperation Existing cetacean conservation tools and networks Initiatives and networks Whales and Dolphins Conservation Society (WDCS) Unit in Latin America Supports projects for the Guiana dolphin in Brazil and cetaceans in Venezuela Some researchs on species like on the Tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) in the Cananeia estuary in Brazil Sociedad Latinoamericana de Especialistas em Mamiferos Acuaticos All Latin American countries are partners except for French Guiana, Surinam, Guyana and Paraguay. Organized workhops every 2 years since 1984 Mar de Cetáceos Information network on management and non-lethal use of cetaceans in the Latin American goal is to facilitate access to and exchange of data on research, whale watching and regional conservation strategies Only Brazil and Venezuela are partners

13 Interest of developing synergies and facilitating cooperation Useful perspective on regional activities Whale watching, an asset for conservation Strongly developed over the past 15 years throughout Latin America In 2006, almost whale watchers in Latin America 280 million $ total spending Venezuela, whale watching began 1990s and involves large cetaceans like the Bryde s whale (Balaenoptera brydei) and tropical dolphins ( sotalia guianensis, Sotalia fluviatilis & Inia geoffrensis). More than half the dolphin sightings within the Mochima national park. Marine tucuxi or Guiana dolphins are one of the most commonly sighted dolphins off the coast of Venezuela. Biologist Jaime Bolanos in the role of a naturalist guide for students of the UNEFA university in Cata Bay, State of Aragua.

14 Interest of developing synergies and facilitating cooperation Useful perspective on regional activities Whale watching, an asset for conservation In Surinam, whale watching has developed since 2004 out of Paramaribo particularly at the estuary of the Suriname River, to watch the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis). M.S. Pool 10dec06

15 Interest of developing synergies and facilitating cooperation Useful perspective on regional activities Whale watching, an asset for conservation In Brazil, whale watching developed especially in the centre and south of the country. In the Amazon basin, whale watching developed in the mid-1980s and mainly involves the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis). In Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and French Guiana no whale watching. This initial review on whale whatching concerns the Guiana dolphin the region s most vulnerable species.

16 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Oil and gas activities development Oil activities have developed at a growing pace in recent years in all the countries in the area. Suriname Exploration since 1980 s Many drills since 2000

17 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Oil and gas activities development Oil activities have developed at a growing pace in recent years in all the countries in the area. Guyana, entire EEZ is divided into units already operated (or due to be acquired) by companies Seismic and 7 wells since 2008

18 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Oil and gas activities development Oil activities have developed at a growing pace in recent years in all the countries in the area. French Guiana, prospection 2D and 3D since 70 s Recent drill in 2011 Changer carte et texte cf une saison en guyane!

19 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Oil and gas activities development Oil activities have developed at a growing pace in recent years in all the countries in the area. In Brazil, oil and gas activity is significant and several offshore rigs are in operation in the east and south of the country

20 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Oil and gas activities development Oil activities have developed at a growing pace in recent years in all the countries in the area. Venezuela, very important oil extraction It has played a decisive role in the country s contemporary history, on an economic, social and political scale

21 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Oil and gas activities development Oil activities have developed at a growing pace in recent years in all the countries in the area. Very few documents exist about the impacts of seismic activities on cetaceans, but scientists agree that the firing of airguns as part of seismic surveys have significant biological, physical and psychological effects on cetaceans. Noise pollution seems to be the main threat for all ziphiidae.

22 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Interactions between fisheries and cetaceans The continental shelf from Brazil to Venezuela area with one of the largest stocks of penaeid prawns in the world. The fishing area runs from the Amazon River to Orinoco where the biomass stock is significant. Pressure from fishing is growing continuously from northern Brazil to Venezuela, with an increasingly large fleet and a variety of fishing equipment.

23 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Interactions between fisheries and cetaceans Northern Brazil : Interactions between cetaceans and fishing equipment are relatively well documented in Brazil, but mainly concern the southern parts of the country, in northeast and data available concerned interactions with Guiana dolphins boats for traditional fishing

24 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Interactions between fisheries and cetaceans French Guiana : Inshore fishing interacts with marine mammals, especially with common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis). 200 boats for traditional fishing 60 boats for Industrial fishing

25 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Interactions between fisheries and cetaceans Suriname : rare information available about incidental cetacean catches only concerns the Guiana dolphin 1100 boats for traditional fishing 190 boats for industrial fishing

26 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Interactions between fisheries and cetaceans Guyana: the Guiana dolphin is known to be incidentally caught in fishing devices, including gillnets. Common bottlenose dolphins are also incidentally caught in nets and trawls boats for traditional fishing 170 boats for Industrial fishing

27 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Interactions between fisheries and cetaceans Venezuela: Several species of cetaceans caught by fishing gear : Clymene dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins, spinner dolphins, the Guiana dolphins and common bottlenose dolphins. Numerous dolphins are found stranded boats for traditional fishing 1024 boats for Industrial fishing

28 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Interactions between fisheries and cetaceans Trinidad & Tobago : one data with a killer whale 2400 boats for traditional fishing 64 boats for Industrial fishing

29 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Interactions between fisheries and cetaceans Inshore fishing is a major business in the region and is often the leading sector for local productions. The two fishing activities combined in the near-shore waters cause interactions with cetaceans, especially Guiana dolphins. Colombie Venezuela boats Brésil Trinidad et Tobago 2464 boats Guyana 1470 boats Brazil 1200 boats Suriname 1290 boats French Guiana (France) 260 boats

30 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Gold washing and mercury On the Guiana Shield, gold washing activities are so important Gold washing has many adverse impacts on natural environments and severely affects the populations health, especially due to mercury pollution.

31 Facing common issues of development Activities developed in the region with potentially adverse impact for marine mammals for conservation Agriculture and pesticides : PCB Marine traffic Relatively high in the area in question and mainly in Trinidad & Tobago Venezuela is a hotspot for global maritime traffic for crude oil transport Marine traffic can affect large cetaceans, which can collide with vessels, especially offshore Brésil

32 Shared common challenges numerous species shared by countries species with vulnerable status Need to improve and pool knowledge of species New data on marine mammal populations in French Guiana and homogenous regional context Potential objectives for a future cooperation Interest of developing synergies and facilitating cooperation Existing cetacean conservation tools and networks A useful perspective on regional activities (whale watching) Facing common issues of development Oil and gas activities development Interactions between fisheries and cetaceans Agriculture and pesticides : Marine traffic

33 A vital regional approach for conservation Advantages of regional cooperation: support and furtherance of the SPAW Marine Mammal Action Plan By strengthening cooperation in marine mammal monitoring countries would thus be able to pool their efforts efficiently and multiply measures in favor of marine mammals.

34 A vital regional approach for conservation Advantages of regional cooperation: support and furtherance of the SPAW Marine Mammal Action Plan The regional MMAP covers a five-year period and comprises 10 key objectives, including consolidating research and knowledge and pooling data : Assess and prevent the degradation of habitats ; Diagnose the impacts of pollutants and contaminants on marine mammals, and take measures to counter them ; Increase research and knowledge and pool data and results ; Improve management of interactions with fisheries ; Encourage and provide a framework for marine mammal watching in their natural environment ; Improve systems for responding to marine mammal stranding and use of stranding data collected ; Assess and mitigate the impacts of acoustic disturbance ; Assess the extent and reduce the frequency and severity of vessel strikes ; Develop standards for capture and for keeping mammals in captivity ; Improve understanding of the impacts of climate change on marine mammals.

35 Need to improve and pool knowledge of species Need to reduce impacts Need to develop public awareness Towards a regional cooperation project

36 Thank you for your attention

37 Marine Mammal Conservation Corridor for Northern South America (MaMa CoCo Sea) Follow-Up Workshop March Paramaribo, Suriname