A FIRST FOR AFRICA AND MARINE MAMMALS BENEFIT
June 07, 2010 by dyertrust
Whales, dolphins, seals and dugongs were on the agenda at the1st African Marine Mammal Colloquium (AMMC)held in Gansbaai (18-21 May, 2010). Jointly hosted by the Mammal Research Institute (MRI) of the University of Pretoria and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) at the Great White House in Kleinbaai.
Participants hailed from South Africa, Namibia, Mauritius, Kenya, and Zanzibar. Of the fifty delegates were researchers, students, government officials, and tourism operators. Well known names included Prof. Peter Best andProf.Elissa Cameron (MRI), Mr Mike Meyer (Oceans & Coastspreviously Marine & Coastal Management), Dr Ken Findlay (University of Cape Town) and Dr.Vic Cockcroft (Director of the Centre for Dolphin Studies-Plettenberg Bay).
Each delegate was required to present their research or an overview of their organisation, and presentations comprised a wide range of topics from dolphin behavioural ecology to southern right whale diet composition. Although challenges in conservation varied from region to region, the solutions followed the same theme greater collaboration and support required from local authorities. Workshops included issues such as eco-tourism, coordination of data collection and sharing in SA, mark-recapture (photo-ID studies) and acoustics.
In order to start thinking about regional research and conservation priorities, the impacts that humans have on marine mammals and their habitat were highlighted. Areas of concern are oil and gas prospecting and production, commercial and artisanal bycatch, directed fishing, habitat degradation, coastal development, tourism, noise and environmental pollution and climate change (which may, or may not, be a negative effect).
There was shared concerns regarding uncontrolled eco-tourism in some African countries where there are regional challenges e.g. more than 25 whale safari boats observing one small group of dolphins. There was a common