The health of many of the
world’s dolphin populations is threatened by bycatch, pollution, habitat
destruction, over-fishing and climate change. Other threats include
activities that may frighten, displace or harm these species such as
underwater noise pollution from sources such as shipping traffic, wind
farms, seismic surveys and military sonars.
Fisheries and bycatch
Global fisheries are increasing in intensity and range. The introduction of
more sustainable fishing techniques can reduce this pressure. However, the
use of destructive fishing methods and the growth of many modern commercial
fisheries continue to impact many dolphin populations around the world. The
impacts can be both direct through bycatch and indirect through loss of prey
species.
Dolphins are known to become entangled in many gear types, including
long-lines, drift nets, trap lines and mid-water trawls, but the largest
problem remains with coastal gill nets, drift nets and purse-seine nets. The
continued use of gill nets is endangering a number of coastal species of
dolphin and porpoise.
Some dolphin populations may also be threatened by the sheer scale of modern
fisheries. As fisheries compete with one another for fish, less and less
prey is available for dolphins and other wildlife to eat.
Chemical pollution
There are many different sources of chemical pollution, including domestic
sewage, industrial discharges, seepage from waste sites, atmospheric
fallout, domestic run-off, accidents and spills at sea, operational
discharges from oil rigs, mining discharges and agricultural run-off. Many
rivers, estuaries and coastal waters near large human population centres
show signs of eutrophication and heavy metal contamination. Toxic algal
blooms are increasingly common around estuaries and bays.
The impacts of chemical pollution on dolphin range from direct physical
poisoning to degradation of important habitats. The chemicals that are
probably of most concern for dolphins are the persistent organic pollutants
(POPs) including pesticides, such as DDT, and industrial chemicals; most
famously the PCBs. These substances enter marine food chains and accumulate
along the chain to the marine top predators.
Damage to the reproductive and immune systems of marine mammals (and other
species) are the likely consequences of their extraordinary pollution
“burdens’. Many dolphin populations are known to be carrying heavy
contaminant burdens which may contribute to increased mortality.
There has been a worldwide increase in reports of viral and bacterial
diseases affecting marine species as well as an apparent increase in toxic
algal blooms. Habitat degradation, in particular increased chemical
contamination, is thought to have facilitated disease outbreaks and the
immunotoxic affects of some substances has been associated with marine
mammal mass mortalities.
The increasing and cumulative pressures on dolphins and the current trends
of climate change may make dolphins more susceptible to disease. The
transport of pathogens around the world, through the movement of products
and ballast water, may increase exposure to disease and environmental
contaminants may be facilitating the emergence of new diseases. In addition,
exposure to chemical substances that have immunotoxic effects may lower
dolphin immune responses and algal bloom outbreaks may further increase the
toll of weakened populations by reducing their food supply as fish die.
Ship strikes, noise, disturbance and harassment
Hearing is the most important sense for dolphins, and the ability to hear
well is vital in all key aspects of their lives including finding food,
navigating and social interactions. Any reduction in hearing ability –
whether by physical damage or masking by other sound – may seriously
compromise the viability of individuals and, therefore, populations.
Human-created noise in the marine environment contributes to an already
significant natural biological and ambient level of sound. Introduced noise
pollution comes from shipping and other vessels, military activities,
fisheries anti-predation devices, ocean research, and the air-guns used in
seismic testing to find oil and gas deposits. An emerging threat to dolphins
are the potential impacts of marine wind farms.
Whilst many of the sources of introduced noise are localized, some recent
military technologies have utilized powerful detection mechanisms that may
radiate over thousands of kilometres of the ocean.
Potential impacts of human-created noise on dolphins range from physical
damage to these animals (especially to those in close proximity to the noise
source) to altering behaviour, increasing stress and displacement from
important habitats.
In addition, the extent of harassment, whether intentional or incidental,
may be an increasing and little understood problem in coastal waters.
The impact of greatest consequence associated with noise pollution,
harassment and ship strikes may be the cumulative and long-term impact that
we are currently unable to assess and evaluate.
Habitat loss and degradation
It is important to both the individual and the survival of the dolphins
population (or species) that habitats continue to be suitable to support
them.
Habitat loss is especially critical for dolphins with limited range, such as
river dolphins. In many areas habitat loss is caused by dams, fishing
structures and withdrawal of water for human use. In some parts of the world
water management, flood control and major river modification, including the
removal of surface water, has led to population decline. Dams prevent
migration and create barriers which fragment populations. Prey species may
be reduced, while sedimentation, nutrient over-enrichment and salinity, and
in turn eutrophication, increase.
Habitat loss is also a concern for coastal and offshore species. Changes in
the atmosphere, weather patterns and marine ecosystems are currently being
observed. Predictions include sea surface changes and sea level rise.
Changes in the ice-caps may affect rainfall and salinity, and temperate
changes may impact on coastal upwelling regions causing a possible reduction
in nutrient concentrations and 'productivity' which in turn can impact whole
food chains.
The modification of habitats may cause shifts in dolphin food sources
(through change in upwelling patterns and prey aggregation). Species that
have evolved to find food in a highly patchy environment may have
difficulties securing prey.
The implications of climate change for dolphins are compounded by the
apparent rate of change (some 3 to 4 degrees celsius in higher latitudes in
only 50 years) which is thought to be much faster than anything that
dolphins have been exposed to in the past. When considered in the context of
cumulative impacts, the ability of dolphin populations to adapt to this
rapid change may be compromised.
Deliberate hunts
Some coastal communities have exploited dolphins for centuries. There are
other documented dolphin harvests in South Asia, East Asia, South East Asia,
and parts of Africa and South America. In some cases, dolphin bycatch has
turned to directed nets or harpoon hunts by artisanal fishers. The impact of
these new directed nets hunts is not known as very little data is available
on the targeted populations or the number of animals being caught. It is
likely that the hunts are not sustainable. The belief that dolphins compete
with fisheries or damage fishing nets has prompted culls in some regions.
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Dolphins
Class:
Mammalia (Mammals) Dolphins have an eye on each side of their head. Each eye moves independently of the other, so dolphins can see ahead, to the side, and behind them. They can also see very well both underwater and in the air. Their vision out of the water is about as good as a cat’s or a dog’s.
Pacific bottlenose whale Image Credit:FAO Fisheries Global Information System River-dolphins are considered to be “primitive” dolphins retaining the slender beaks with numerous teeth, flexible necks, pronounced forehead melons, and the undeveloped dorsal fins of early dolphins. River-dolphins live in muddy river estuaries and rely on their excellent echolocation skills in order to “see” the world they live in. The family taxonomy has not been agreed upon by the scientific community. Species considered to be river-dolphins are the
Ganges river-dolphin Image Credit:FAO Fisheries Global Information System Indian river-dolphin (Indus and Ganges river-dolphins), Amazon river-dolphin (boto), Yangtse river-dolphin (baiji), and the La Plata dolphin. The Baiji Yangtze Dolphin is with all probability extinct.
Beluga Whale Spyhopping Photo taken by Robyn Angliss, NMML There are only two species in the Monodontidae family, the narwhal and the beluga (white whales). Both species lack dorsal fins, have blunt-shaped heads, are gray colored at birth, and whiten as they mature. Adult beluga whales are a brilliant white while narwhals have white bellies and mottled grayish-green backs and flanks (although old animals may be completely white). Belugas have 8-10 teeth in each jaw, while the narwhal is toothless except for two embedded teeth in the upper jaw: one of these teeth develops into a spiral tusk in males and some females.
Common Dolphin Photo taken by Scott Hill, NOAA Corps Members of the dolphin, or Delphinidae family, usually have teeth in both jaws (the number and shape of the teeth vary by species), a melon-shaped head with a distinct beak, and a dorsal fin. A few of the 36 species in this family are the
bottlenose dolphin
Risso's dolphin
Pacific whitesided dolphin
shortfinned pilot whale
Irrawaddy dolphin
false killer whale Image Credits:FAO Fisheries Global Information System longfinned pilot whale
killer whale (orca) Threats to DolphinsFor more information on Whales, Dolphins and Porpoise click on the logos below
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Credit: The National Marine Mammal Laboratory, FAO Fisheries Global Information System, The Illinois State Academy of Science, American Cetacean Society, School of Biological Sciences, University of California , The United States Navy |
