By Ling Hui
KUCHING, April 14: With three incidental catches of marine mammals happening in the Rajang-Belawai-Paloh area in 2022, experts are concerned about the threats on the population of the animals, especially endangered species like the Irrawaddy dolphin.
In a video on social media by Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Malaysia marine mammal conservation officer Samantha Ambie said three incidental catches per year is significant considering the low reproductive rate of the marine mammals including the Irrawaddy dolphins.
She explained that Irrawaddy dolphins usually feed near the fisheries activities along Rajang-Belawai-Paloh, putting the marine mammals at risk of being accidentally caught in fishing nets.
She said incidental catch is the greatest threat to marine mammal species, including the Irrawaddy dolphins.
“To address incidental catches, WWF-Malaysia interviewed fishers around the area to estimate marine mammal mortality, trained fishers to collect incidental catch data and implemented awareness activities.
“Future plans include identifying incidental catch mitigation measures to safeguard the population in the area,” said Samantha.
Meanwhile, SFC Head of Marine Section James Bali said public awareness programmes conducted by SFC among the local people had been successful.
He said there was a recent incidental catch of a dead finless porpoise, and local folk contacted SFC and related agencies for further action.
“This is a good sign that our conservation programmes are working.
“We cannot conserve and protect the species and their critical habitats alone without the help or support of the local people,” said James in the same recorded video.
Today, April 14, is World Dolphin Day. It is an annual celebration dedicated to raising awareness about dolphins and their importance to the ecosystem.
The day was created to honour dolphins and to recognize their significance in the world’s oceans.
Dolphins are known for their friendly and playful nature and have long been a source of inspiration and wonder for humans.
World Dolphin Day is also an opportunity to celebrate the beauty and wonder of these remarkable creatures. Dolphins are known for their intelligence, communication skills, and playful personalities.
They are also important indicators of ocean health, and their presence in an ecosystem is often a sign of a healthy and balanced environment. — DayakDaily
