marine mammals of guyana
TRANSCRIPT
Marine Mammals of Guyana Michelle Kalamandeen, Department of Biology, University of Guyana
Patrick Chesney, Guiana Shield Facility, UNDP
• 214,970 sq km, approximately 90% of its population (751,223) resides along the coastal zone (economic & industrial hub)
• Coastal zone: 430 km long and 26-77 km wide
• Excl. Econ. Zone (EEZ): 135,900 km2
• Shelf area: 51,978 km2
• Inshore Fishing Area (IFA): 22,695 km2
• Diversity & status of marine mammal species remains relatively unknown.
• Little to no research has been conducted on marine mammals in Guyana.
Guyana
Guyana’s EEZ
Species of Marine Mammals occurring in Guyana’s EEZ
• Eubalaena australis (Baleen Whale)
• Delphinus delphis (Common Dolphin) listed by SI or Delphinus capensis (Longbeak Common Dolphin) listed by UNEP-CMS
• Globicephala macrorhynchus (Short finned Pilot Whales)
• Sotalia guianensis (Guianan dolphin) – listed as Appendix II by CMS, Listed as Data Deficient by IUCN (Culik, 2010)
• Feresa attenuata (Pygmy killer whale) – listed by UNEP-CMS
• Kogia breviceps (Pygmy sperm whale) – listed by UNEP-CMS
• Kogia sima (Dwarf sperm whale) – listed by UNEP-CMS
• Lagenodelphis hosei (Fraser's dolphin) - listed by UNEP-CMS
• Stenella clymene (Clymene dolphin) - listed by UNEP-CMS
Limited to coastal strip (rivers):
• Inia geoffrensis (River Dolphin), Trichechus manatus (West Indian Manatee), Trichechus inunguis (Amazonian Manatee)
Sources: Smithsonian Institute website(accessed 2013), UNEP-CMS (2004), and Van Canneyt et al (2010)
Stranding at Shell Beach Protected Area:
2009: Baleen whale (1)
2010: Killer whale (1)
Existing Legislation
• CITES [Appendix I for all marine mammals, except G. macrorhynchus listed as Appendix II]
• Fisheries Act 2002 [refers to marine mammals as bycatch, but no studies on
marine mammals bycatch conducted]. • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Act, 1996 [general protection of
wildlife] • SPAW Protocol [Guyana has ratified & acceded] • DRAFT Wildlife & Conservation Regulations [general protection of wildlife]
SHELL BEACH
PROTECTED AREA
Lack of knowledge on what exists in EEZ = lack of conservation efforts
Increase petroleum/oil explorations
Bycatch /Accidental captures
Increase infrastructure development
Marine Pollution
Lack of political will
Lack of funding & resources
Potential Pressures/Thr
eats
ANY QUESTIONS?