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Assessment of the conservation status of the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) using the IUCN Red List criteria
Braulik, G.T.; Findlay, K.; Cerchio, S.; Baldwin, R. (2015). Assessment of the conservation status of the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) using the IUCN Red List criteria, in: Jefferson, T.A. et al. Adv. Mar. Biol. 72: Humpback dolphins (Sousa spp.): Current status and conservation, Part 1. Advances in Marine Biology, 72: pp. 119-141. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/bs.amb.2015.08.004
In: Jefferson, T.A.; Curry, B.E. (Ed.) (2015). Adv. Mar. Biol. 72: Humpback dolphins (Sousa spp.): Current status and conservation, Part 1. Advances in Marine Biology, 72. Academic Press: London. ISBN 978-0-12-803258-9. XXVIII, 266 pp., more
In: Advances in Marine Biology. Academic Press: London, New York. ISSN 0065-2881; e-ISSN 2162-5875, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    By-catch
    Sousa plumbea (G. Cuvier, 1829) [WoRMS]
    ISW, Indian Ocean [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Indian Ocean humpback dolphin; Marine conservation; Endangered

Authors  Top 
  • Braulik, G.T.
  • Findlay, K.
  • Cerchio, S.
  • Baldwin, R.

Abstract
    Indian Ocean humpback dolphins () are obligate shallow-water dolphins that occur exclusively in the near-shore waters of the Indian Ocean, from South Africa to the Bay of Bengal. They have a narrow habitat preference, restricted distribution and do not appear very abundant across any part of their range. There is no estimate of total species abundance; all populations that have been quantitatively evaluated have been small in size, usually fewer than 200 individuals. Fishing, dredging, land reclamation, construction blasting, port and harbour construction, pollution, boat traffic and other coastal development activities all occur, or are concentrated within, humpback dolphin habitat and threaten their survival. Although data are far from sufficient to make a rigorous quantitative assessment of population trends for this species, the scale of threats is large enough over a significant enough portion of the range to suspect or infer a decline of at least 50% over three generations, which qualifies it for listing on the IUCN Red List as Endangered. The issue primarily responsible is incidental mortality in fisheries, but the loss and degradation of habitat is likely a contributing factor. None of the threats have been adequately addressed in any part of the species’ range, even though threat levels are increasing virtually everywhere.

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