The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is a global intergovernmental body charged with the conservation of whales and the management of whaling. The Scientific Committee is a subsidiary body responsible for providing scientific advice to the Commission. The IWC’s Scientific Committee met earlier this year from 22 April to 3 May in Bled, Slovenia.
The work of the Scientific Committee is conducted under several subcommittees, composed of experts and specialists which discuss specific topics related to cetacean conservation and management. One such a subcommittee relates to conservation of small cetaceans (named SM). This Subcommittee has repeatedly highlighted its concern for the conservation of Indian Ocean humpback dolphins over the past 25 years and has recommended wide-ranging collaboration among researchers to address these concerns.
The Scientific Committee endorses HuDoNet
At the 2024 meeting (SC69b), HuDoNet submitted a report 1) to detail the development and growth of our humpback dolphin network, and 2) to feature how HuDoNET is responding to previous recommendations of the Scientific Committee. The Subcommittee commended the development of the network and requested regular updates at future meetings. They recommended:
Given the paucity of information on Indian Ocean humpback dolphins (Sousa plumbea) from throughout its range and the vulnerable status of the populations that have been studied, the Subcommittee encouraged the continued effort of all HuDoNET members to complete the planned activities and recommended that a species action plan be developed, as and when sufficient data become available, through a formal mechanism such as the CMS Concerted Action initiative or the IWC Conservation Management Plan process.
This endorsement from the IWC is significant for HuDoNet, providing support that can be leveraged when seeking expertise from the IWC (for example, the IWC Bycatch Mitigation Initiative) and applying for funding and permits generally. We wish to thank all the HuDoNET members who co-authored this report. The full report of the Scientific Committee can be accessed here (see page 81 for the reference to HuDoNet).
Other relevant news from the IWC
In addition to the HuDoNet report, several other items of interest were presented to the Scientific Committee, many of them about bycatch:
Dolphin Bycatch Mitigation: A three-year study in Brazil tested the use of upcycled plastic drink bottles as acoustic reflectors to reduce dolphin bycatch in gill and trammel nets. The results showed an 85% reduction in dolphin bycatch without affecting the catch of target species.
Croaker-Fish Swim Bladders: The international trade in croaker-fish swim bladders has increased. An analysis of six croaker species, with high-value swim bladders, reveals that their ranges overlap eight threatened species of small cetacean, including the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin.
Bycatch Mitigation Initiative: The IWC’s Bycatch Mitigation Initiative coordinator participated in the Consortium for the Conservation of the Atlantic Humpback Dolphin (CCAHD) to build capacity in their region. Some work was done by the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative in the Western Indian Ocean, in conjunction with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC). One of our members, Jeremy Kiszka et al (2023), conducted a study on the extent of bycatch in tuna fisheries in the IOTC area. They used an ecological risk assessment to investigate the vulnerability of cetaceans to bycatch in drift gillnets, pelagic longlines and purse seines. The vulnerability rating for humpback dolphins was relatively low as there is not much spatial overlap. [Other work has shown that the main threat to humpback dolphins is coastal bottom set gillnets.]
Future Bycatch Mitigation Work: The IWC has secured funding for further bycatch mitigation work in the Indian Ocean, including a spatial rapid risk assessment by gear type and a workshop on bycatch gap analysis.
Additional research and conservation news
Genetic Research: The Scientific Committee expressed interest in a relatively new genetic approach, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) for its potential in population genomic studies and conservation management. They encouraged future contributions to facilitate discussions on this approach.
Photo-ID Platforms: Two automated photo-ID tools, FlukeBook and HappyWhale, are freely available for research and conservation use.
Research and Conservation Guidelines: The IWC shares various Protocols, Best Practice and How To Guides on bycatch, stranding, photo-id, genetics, and more. These resources are available at IWC Protocols and Guides.
State of the Cetacean Environment Report (SOCER): The 2023 report focused on the Indian Ocean and is available here. The 2024 report will be released on the IWC website soon.
Ongoing collaboration and support from the IWC and other conservation bodies are crucial for the success of HuDoNet and the protection of the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin.
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