(allAfrica.com)
Coastal Dolphin Study Intensifies
BY JANA-MARI SMITH, 19 JANUARY 2012
THE three-year-old Namibian Dolphin Project is moving its research project to new waters to conduct offshore studies in the marine protected environment off the coast of Lüderitz.
The aim of the survey, which will run from March to June, is to conduct ship-based assessments of the presence, abundance and habitat use patterns of dolphins, whales and turtles.
Researchers and scientists will particularly look at the species living in the offshore islands protected areas, a unique coastal custodian programme, and the bird islands like Possession and Ichaboe island.
According to the head of the project, Dr Simon Elwen, the Namibian Dolphin Project began in 2008, but has up to now focused mainly on the two predominant dolphin species, the bottlenose dolphin and the heaviside dolphin, living in the natural bay area near Walvis Bay. He explained that "our core research to date has focused on the coastal dolphins of Walvis Bay where human impacts and a large marine tourism industry are highest".
Elwen said that Namibia has a unique population of bottlenose dolphins, which number less than 100 at the moment. He said research for the past three years has shown that the small population is decreasing.
"At the moment we don't know if this is due to animals leaving the bay, or an overall population decline, but it could be a bit of both".
He said the bottlenose dolphins are "unique within the Benguela ecosystem as it ranges only between Sandwich harbour and Cape Cross. The bottlenose dolphins commonly seen on the east coast of southern Africa are actually a different species (Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins)".
The Namibian Dolphin Project has worked closely with the marine tourism industry in the area. Elwen said that the project "identified key resting and feeding areas" of the bottlenose dolphin.
This has led to talks with the tourism industry where the scientists have advised that they stay out of these key areas in order to "provide a protected area for the dolphins".
The response has been positive, he said and the decision to keep those areas out of bounds benefits the tourism industry in that they can demonstrate their willingness to assist efforts to help preserve the dolphin population. Plus, it offers a unique view of dolphins and their offspring resting in a non-threatening environment.
Another area which the project focuses on is working as the go-to persons for live or dead stranded marine animals. These animals are scientific gems, Elwen said.
"Stranded animals are very valuable to scientists. They give us new insight. We are able to get tissue samples, look at their diets. They give us access to deep-sea species we never get to see otherwise".
The move to Lüderitz in March to conduct studies there will be valuable.
Elwen said that the project, which is funded by the Nedbank Go Green Fund, and is being run in conjunction with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, is critical because up to now, there has been no information available on which species of whale and dolphin are commonly seen in the protected areas "especially in light of the rapidly increasing human impacts in the area relating mainly to prospecting and mining for hydrocarbons".
Students or recent graduates interested in a career in marine mammal science who are looking to gain experience, are encouraged to apply for a volunteer position for the survey which runs from March to June. For more information, contact Dr Simon Elwen at simon.elwen@gmail.com
Tagged: Namibia, Southern Africa
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