DOCSLIB.ORG

Report of an International Workshop: Policy on Sound and Marine Mammals, 28–30 September 2004, London, England

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Report of an International Workshop: Policy on Sound and Marine Mammals, 28–30 September 2004, London, England Report of an International Workshop: Policy on Sound and Marine Mammals, 28–30 September 2004, London, England Erin Vos and Randall R. Reeves 23 December 2005 Suggested citation: Vos, E., and R.R. Reeves. 2006. Report of an International Workshop: Policy on Sound and Marine Mammals, 28–30 September 2004, London, England. Marine Mammal Commission, Bethesda, Maryland. 129 pp. Special thanks to Zoë Crutchfield and Colleen Corrigan, without whom this meeting would not have been possible Workshop graphic design by Dave Johnston Available online: http://www.mmc.gov/sound Print copies available from Marine Mammal Commission 4340 East-West Highway, Room 905 Bethesda, MD 20814 United States Joint Nature Conservation Committee Dunnet House 7 Thistle Place Aberdeen AB10 1UZ United Kingdom Foreword: A Brief Summary from the Workshop Conveners The U.S. Marine Mammal Commission (Commission) and the U.K. Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) sponsored an international policy workshop on sound and marine mammals in London, U.K., 28–30 September 2004. More than 100 participants from more than 20 countries attended. The Commission and JNCC gratefully acknowledge all those who assisted in organizing and carrying out the workshop. The workshop goals were to: • Determine the range of efforts to manage, mitigate, and prevent impacts of human- generated sound on marine mammals; • Determine how various legal and regulatory frameworks have been or could be used to address acoustic impacts on marine mammals; • Identify cross-boundary or multilateral issues; and • Identify innovative management strategies and policies that might be incorporated within national and international frameworks. The workshop included individual and panel presentations as well as small-group and plenary discussion sessions. It focused on promoting contacts and dialogue among expert scientists, industry representatives, policy-makers, and administrators from around world to share information and perspectives about managing the interactions between anthropogenic (human­ generated) sound and marine mammals. The organizers did not set out to produce recommendations. Nevertheless, a number of information and institutional gaps, as well as means to address these gaps, emerged as themes from the workshop. We provide our brief summary below. 1. Basis for Concern and State of Knowledge • Recent mass strandings of beaked whales and other cetacean species have raised international awareness and concern about the impacts on cetaceans from exposure to loud, episodic anthropogenic sounds in low- and mid-frequency ranges. • Seismic airguns, military sonar, commercial ships, and sound projectors used in large- scale ocean research produce some of the most powerful and pervasive anthropogenic sounds in the oceans. • Because of the nature of sound propagation in water and the high mobility and wide distribution of marine mammals, managing marine mammal exposures to anthropogenic sound is transboundary in scope and requires international cooperation. • A wide variety of human activities (e.g., shipping, oil and gas exploration and development, construction, ocean research, and military defense) undertaken by virtually every coastal nation introduce anthropogenic sound into the oceans and seas. • Different species respond differently to various types and levels of anthropogenic sound. When responses occur, documented effects range from short-term behavioral change to physical injury, stranding, and death. • In most developing (and many developed) countries, baseline information on marine mammals and underwater sound is far from adequate, and few or no monitoring programs are in place. Foreword–i Foreword: A Brief Summary from the Workshop Conveners • Policy-makers, scientists, and the general public need a better understanding of the effects of sound on marine mammals at both individual and population levels. • The levels and other characteristics of human-generated underwater sounds from different sources need to be better documented at local, regional, and global levels. • Scientists and policy-makers need a much better qualitative and quantitative understanding of the mechanisms that link underwater sound to behavioral and physiological responses by marine mammals. Such understanding should include knowledge of dose-response relationships and thresholds of exposure that trigger given effects. • The biological significance of marine mammal reactions to anthropogenic sounds needs further elaboration. Scientists and policy-makers need to understand the type and scale of effects that would have long-term or irreversible consequences for an individual or a population. Biological significance likely depends, at least in part, on population status. For example, displacement of a few animals belonging to an endangered population could be highly significant, whereas it might be unimportant for a large, healthy population. • The immediate, acute, or observable effects of underwater sound on marine mammals are important. However, the potential cumulative, synergistic, and long-term effects, although much more difficult to detect, characterize, and measure, may be as important, or even more important, to marine mammal populations. 2. Managing Risk in the Face of Uncertainty • Risk assessment and environmental impact assessment processes are not used universally, and are not used in relation to some sources of noise. When such tools are used, the potential impacts on marine mammals from anthropogenic sound are frequently overlooked. Use of these tools and consideration of these potential impacts should become routine. • Best practices in risk assessment and environmental impact assessment involve: (a) Recognizing and quantifying risks and uncertainties; (b) Incorporating a precautionary approach; (c) Assessing potential impacts early in project design so that the results can be used during implementation; and (d) Making use of all available relevant data. • Modifying the spatial and temporal scope of a sound-producing activity may be one of the most effective ways to reduce its risk to marine mammals. 3. Mitigation Strategies • In managing the risks of sound to marine mammals, strategies must be tailored to particular situations such that appropriate mitigation tools are employed to address particular types and levels of sound and to protect particular species from harm. In other words, a mitigation strategy that is appropriate for one situation may not be appropriate for another: one size does not fit all. • The most promising mitigation strategies are those that reduce sound output and those that separate sound-generating activities, spatially and temporally, from marine mammals. This separation may be accomplished through, for example, seasonal or year- round avoidance of areas that may include concentrations of marine mammals, areas of Foreword–ii Foreword: A Brief Summary from the Workshop Conveners special importance to marine mammals (e.g., locations used for calving/pupping, resting, feeding), or areas used preferentially by species known or thought to be especially vulnerable to harmful effects of particular types of sound (e.g., beaked whales and naval sonar). • Mitigation strategies that change sound output or constrain operations may be the most expensive or disruptive for the sound producers. • The shipping industry is a major contributor to the sound budget of the oceans. Shipping is an international enterprise, with many aspects regulated through the International Maritime Organization. Technologies are available for making quieter ships, and the industry’s own interests may converge with the conservation imperative to employ those technologies through, for example, a “green shipping” certification initiative. Many ship owners may be willing to work with scientists and conservationists to develop and implement a strategy for managing ship noise, particularly if the risks of ship noise to marine mammals are clearly communicated. • The effectiveness of many tools currently used to mitigate the effects of human-generated sound on marine mammals (e.g., soft-start/ramp-up, onboard observers to detect marine mammals) is unproven. Monitoring and experimentation should be conducted to test the effectiveness of these and other mitigation techniques. 4. International Cooperation • Although no existing international legal instrument directly and explicitly addresses underwater sound as a threat to marine mammals, several multilateral agreements contain language that some interpret as applying to this issue (e.g., International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea). • A few multilateral legal instruments and regional bodies are in early stages of addressing this issue. For example, two regional cetacean protection agreements under the Convention on Migratory Species (ASCOBANS and ACCOBAMS) have passed resolutions and commissioned research related to the effects of sound. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Undersea Research Centre supports a major program of mitigation and research, focused on reducing the risks to beaked whales from military sonar during research exercises. • In the absence of an existing international legal instrument with an explicit mandate to address the effects of sound on marine mammals, it will be necessary to decide among three main options for further action: (1) Focus on national and/or regional approaches and abandon a global approach; (2) Seek to modify or re-interpret an existing international legal framework;
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Three-Dimensional Numerical Model in Orthogonal Curvilinear –Sigma Coordinate System for Pearl River Estuary
    This is the Pre-Published Version. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 127, No. 1, 2001, pp. 72-82 3D NUMERICAL MODEL FOR PEARL RIVER ESTUARY K. W. Chau Associate Professor, Department of Civil & Structural Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Y. W. Jiang Research Assistant, Department of Civil & Structural Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong ABSTRACT: A 3D numerical model with orthogonal curvilinear coordinate in the horizontal direction and sigma coordinate in the vertical direction has been developed. This model is based on POM (the Princeton Ocean Model). In this model a second moment turbulence closure sub-model is embedded, and the stratification caused by salinity and temperature is considered. Furthermore, in order to adapt to estuary locations where flow pattern is complex, the horizontal time differencing is implicit with the use of a time splitting method instead of the explicit method in POM. This model is applied to the Pearl River estuary, which is the largest river system in South China with Hong Kong at eastern side of its entrance. The computation is verified and calibrated with field measurement data. The computed results mimic the field data well. KEY WORDS Three-dimensional, orthogonal curvilinear coordinate, time-splitting, Pearl River estuary INTRODUCTION The Pearl River (Zhujiang) is the largest river system in South China. The Pearl River Delta Region (PRDR), which includes eight cities (Guangzho, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou, Foshan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen), is one of the most important economic zone in China, even in Asia and the world. With the economic boom of PRDR, the resources of the estuary such as the harbor, channel, reclamation zone etc.
    [Show full text]
  • For Information Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs
    CB(1) 516/05-06(01) For Information Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs Legislative Council Panel on Planning, Lands and Works Information Note on Overall Sewage Infrastructure in Hong Kong Purpose This note informs members on the policy behind and progress of sewage infrastructure planning and implementation in Hong Kong. Policy Goals for the Provision of Sewage Infrastructure 2. The policy goals for the provision of sewage infrastructure are the protection of public health and the attainment of the declared Water Quality Objectives for the receiving water environment. The latter are set so as to ensure our waters are of a sufficient quality to sustain certain uses which are valued by the community. These include, variously, abstraction for potable supply, swimming, secondary contact recreation such as yachting, and the ability to sustain healthy marine and freshwater ecosystems. The Sewerage Planning Process 3. The sewerage planning process entails the systematic review of the sewerage needs in each sewerage catchment with the aim of drawing up a series of Sewerage Master Plans (SMPs) devised so as to ensure the above policy goals will be met. A total of 16 SMPs covering the whole of Hong Kong were completed between 1989 and 1996 (Annex 1). The SMPs started with those covering areas where waters were close to or exceeded their assimilative limits, were highly valued, or where excessive pollution had resulted in environmental black spots. For example, Hong Kong Island South SMP covering sensitive beach areas and Tolo Harbour SMP covering nutrient loaded Tolo Harbour were among the earliest conducted SMPs. Each study made recommendations for the appropriate network of sewers, pumping stations and treatment facilities for the proper collection, treatment and disposal of sewage generated in the catchment, with the aim of catering for the present and future development needs.
    [Show full text]
  • The Conservation Programme for the Chinese White Dolphin in Hong Kong
    The Conservation Programme for the Chinese White Dolphin in Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................2 II. SPECIES OVERVIEW ...................................................................................4 1. DISTRIBUTION .....................................................................................................4 2. ABUNDANCE .......................................................................................................4 3. HOME RANGE AND GROUP SIZE..........................................................................4 4. BEHAVIOUR ........................................................................................................5 5. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.............................................................................5 6. FEEDING AND REPRODUCTION ............................................................................5 7. THREATS.............................................................................................................5 III. HUMAN IMPACTS.........................................................................................7 1. HABITAT LOSS AND DISTURBANCE .....................................................................7 2. POLLUTION .........................................................................................................7 3. DEPLETION OF FOOD RESOURCES .......................................................................8
    [Show full text]
  • WORKING PAPER No. 39 INITIAL ASSESSMENT of POSSIBLE PORT DEVELOPMENT SITES
    This subject paper is intended to be a research paper delving into different views and analyses from various sources. The views and analyses as contained in this paper are intended to stimulate public discussion and input to the planning process of the "HK2030 Study" and do not necessarily represent the views of the HKSARG. WORKING PAPER No. 39 INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF POSSIBLE PORT DEVELOPMENT SITES Background 1. The port is a vital economic infrastructure of Hong Kong. As a result of rapid economic growth in Southern China and Mainland’s accession to the World Trade Organization, the Port Development Strategy Review (PDSR) 2001 recommended that the existing container terminals may not have sufficient capacity to meet long-term need and the next container terminal would be required in early next decade1. 2. In planning for the future port development, our objective is to formulate a sustainable port development strategy which will take into account both the economic needs for further port facilities and the possible measures to mitigate the existing and new environmental problems. As for future port location, four potential sites for future container port development were shortlisted by PDSR 2001 for further investigation, namely West Tuen Mun, East Lantau, Northwest Lantau and Southwest Tsing Yi. To finalise the best site for future container port development, the sites are now being further investigated under the Study on Hong Kong Port- Master Plan 2020 (HKP2020) to be completed in early 2004. In view of the proximity of the East Lantau site to the Disney Development, this site has not been selected for further detailed assessment.
    [Show full text]
  • Recreational In-Water Interaction with Aquatic Mammals
    CMS Distribution: General CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY UNEP/CMS/COP12/Inf.13 21 June 2017 SPECIES Original: English 12th MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES Manila, Philippines, 23 - 28 October 2017 Agenda Item 24.2.5 RECREATIONAL IN-WATER INTERACTION WITH AQUATIC MAMMALS (Prepared by the Aquatic Mammals Working Group of the Scientific Council) Summary: As requested by the First Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council, the Aquatic Mammals Working Group has developed a briefing document on the impacts of tourist or recreational activities involving in-water human interaction with aquatic mammals. The related draft resolution and decision are available in UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.24.2.5. UNEP/CMS/COP12/Inf.13 REPORT ON RECREATIONAL IN-WATER INTERACTION WITH AQUATIC MAMMALS 1. Recreational in-water interaction with aquatic mammals, often called “aquatic mammal swim-with” (AMSW) are tourism or recreational activities involving in-water human interaction with aquatic mammals. These occur in wild settings only. In-water interactions carried out in captive and semi-captive facilities (e.g. dolphinaria interaction programmes, dolphin-assisted therapy) or any other commercial activities (e.g. collection of ‘aquatic bushmeat’; CMS-AMWG 2016) are beyond the scope of this document. 2. In-water interactions with aquatic mammals (here after called ‘Aquatic Mammal Swim-with’ or AMSW) are a fast-growing phenomenon in many locations around the world and are likely to bring widespread disturbance to aquatic mammals in many different situations and habitats, with potentially serious conservation consequences. Many of the species affected by these interactions are species listed on CMS Appendices I and II (see Annex 2).
    [Show full text]
  • Ocean Theme Parks
    OCEAN THEME PARKS: A Look Inside China’s Growing Captive Cetacean Industry SECOND EDITION China Cetacean Alliance G/F, 13 Kak Tin Village Kung Miu, Tai Wai, N.T., Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2866-2652 Fax: (852) 2866-2652 Email: [email protected] INSIDE 2 China Cetacean Alliance and Members 23 Animal Management and Its Contribution to Welfare 4 Abbreviations Restricted and poor quality environments 4 Glossary Unnatural social groupings 5 Executive Summary Stereotypies 6 Recommendations Physical issues caused by poor animal management 8 Ocean Theme Parks in China Noise and stress Rapidly developing industry Trainer abuse Orca case study 26 Injuries and Illnesses Activities 28 Deaths 14 Cetaceans in Captivity in China 29 Industry and Government Concerns Narrow-ridged finless porpoise case study 29 Chinese National Government Regulations The trade in live cetaceans Review of laws Pan-tropical spotted dolphin case study National standards for the keeping of aquatic animals Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin case study Review of management regulations 20 Captive Breeding Case study - comparison of regulations with Brazil and the UK 20 Rescue and Rehabilitation 33 Conclusion 21 Use of Cetaceans for Public Entertainment 35 Endnotes Cetacean shows 36 References Swimming with dolphins 37 Appendices Close contact experience OCEAN THEME PARKS: A Look Inside China’s Growing Captive Cetacean Industry SECOND EDITION 2019 The China Cetacean Alliance (CCA) is a coalition of international animal welfare issues associated with cetacean captivity, assessed animal protection and conservation organisations, comprising facility breeding success and educational activities, and considered the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), Endangered Species Fund, the facilities’ adherence to China’s national regulations.
    [Show full text]
  • GEO REPORT No. 106
    SUSPENDED SEDIMENT IN HONG KONG WATERS GEO REPORT No. 106 S. Parry GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING OFFICE CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION SUSPENDED SEDIMENT IN HONG KONG WATERS GEO REPORT No. 106 S. Parry This report was originally produced in November 1999 as GEO Natural Resources Report No. NRR 1/99 - 2 - © The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region First published, November 2000 Prepared by: Geotechnical Engineering Office, Civil Engineering Department, Civil Engineering Building, 101 Princess Margaret Road, Homantin, Kowloon, Hong Kong. This publication is available from: Government Publications Centre, Ground Floor, Low Block, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong. Overseas orders should be placed with: Publications Sales Section, Information Services Department, Room 402, 4th Floor, Murray Building, Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong. Price in Hong Kong: HK$152 Price overseas: US$23 (including surface postage) An additional bank charge of HK$50 or US$6.50 is required per cheque made in currencies other than Hong Kong dollars. Cheques, bank drafts or money orders must be made payable to The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. - 4 - FOREWORD This report was produced as part of a literature review, which included existing field measurements, of suspended sediment data in and around Hong Kong waters. The purpose of the report was to provide an overview of the causes and levels of suspended sediments in Hong Kong waters. The report was written by S. Parry. Valuable comments were provided by P.G.D. Whiteside, Q.S.H. Kwan, N.C. Evans, W.N.
    [Show full text]
  • Report of the Second Workshop on the Biology and Conservation of Small Cetaceans and Dugongs of South-East Asia
    CMS Technical Series Publication Nº 9 Report of the Second Workshop on The Biology and Conservation of Small Cetaceans and Dugongs of South-East Asia Edited by W. F. Perrin, R. R. Reeves, M. L. L. Dolar, T. A. Jefferson, H. Marsh, J. Y. Wang and J. Estacion Convention on Migratory Species REPORT OF THE SECOND WORKSHOP ON THE BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF SMALL CETACEANS AND DUGONGS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA Silliman University, Dumaguete City, Philippines 24-26 July, 2002 Edited by W. F. Perrin, R. R. Reeves, M. L. L. Dolar, T. A. Jefferson, H. Marsh, J. Y. Wang and J. Estacion Workshop sponsored by Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals; additional support provided by Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, WWF-US and WWF-Philippines. Published by the UNEP/CMS Secretariat Report of the Second Workshop on the Biology and Conservation of Small Cetaceans and Dugongs of South-East Asia UNEP/CMS Secretariat, Bonn, Germany, 161 pages CMS Technical Series Publication No. 9 Edited by: W.F. Perrin, R.R. Reeves, M.L.L. Dolar, T.A. Jefferson, H. Marsh, J.Y. Wang and J. Estacion Cover illustration: digital artwork by Jose T. Badelles from a photograph by Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan © UNEP/CMS Secretariat 2005 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. UNEP/CMS would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever with- out prior permission in writing from the UNEP/CMS Secretariat.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix 6 BACKGROUND INFORMATION on FISHERIES at TAI O/NORTH LANTAU
    Agreement No. CE 41/98 EIA - Final Assessment Report Tai O Sheltered Boat Anchorage - Environmental Impact Assessment May 2000 Civil Engineering Department Appendices Appendix 6 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON FISHERIES AT TAI O/NORTH LANTAU Scott Wilson (Hong Kong) Ltd ! P:\HOME\ENVIRO\R\98117\Final\EIA\Appendices.doc Appx 71 Agreement No. CE 41/98 EIA - Final Assessment Report Tai O Sheltered Boat Anchorage - Environmental Impact Assessment May 2000 Civil Engineering Department Appendices A6 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON FISHERIES AT TAI O/NORTH LANTAU A6.1 Introduction A search for background information on fisheries at Tai O found that, due to the Hong Kong/China boundary situation prior to 1997, waters of Tai O Bay and off Tai O were not surveyed by Hong Kong studies. As a result, little strictly local information on Tai O fisheries was available. Information from other fishing areas in north Lantau was used to fill this data gap as far as possible. The following references were consulted: • The Status of Fisheries in Hong Kong Waters (Richards 1980); • The Demersal Fishery Resources in Hong Kong Waters (1982-83) (Chong 1984); • Fisheries Production in Hong Kong Waters (AFD 1985); • Port Survey 1991 (AFD 1991); • The impact of dredging on fisheries sensitive receivers (Ni 1995); • Coastal ecology studies – summary data final report (Binnie 1998); • Port Survey 96/97 (AFD 1998a); • Fisheries Resources and Fishing Operations in Hong Kong Waters - Final Report (AFD 1998b); and • Study on Tonggu Waterway (Scott Wilson 1998 a, b, c). Findings of these reports were reviewed for information on common fisheries species found in north Lantau waters, number and type of fishing vessels, number of fishermen employed and total fisheries production.
    [Show full text]
  • RECLAMATION OUTSIDE VICTORIA HARBOUR and ROCK CAVERN DEVELOPMENT
    Enhancing Land Supply Strategy RECLAMATION OUTSIDE VICTORIA HARBOUR and ROCK CAVERN DEVELOPMENT Strategic Environmental Assessment Report - Reclamation Sites Executive Summary Civil Engineering Development Department Agreement No. 9/2011 Increasing Land Supply by Reclamation and Rock Cavern Development cum Public Engagement - Feasibility Study SEA Report - Reclamation Sites (Executive Summary) Contents Page 1 Introduction 3 1.1 Project Background 3 1.2 Objectives of Assignment 3 1.3 SEA and Objectives of SEA 4 1.4 Disclaimer 4 2 Overall Site Selection Methodology 5 3 Review of Previous Studies and Constraints 6 3.1 Constraints and Considerations 6 3.2 SEA/Environmental Considerations in the Identification of Pre-longlisted Reclamation Sites 8 4 Stage 1 Public Engagement and Formulation of Site Selection Criteria (SSC) 11 4.1 Stage 1 Public Engagement 11 4.2 Site Selection Criteria 11 4.3 SEA/Environmental Comments 12 4.4 Other Comments 12 4.5 SEA/Environmental Observations 13 5 Selection of Longlisted Sites 14 5.1 Site Longlisting Methodology 14 5.2 Initial Site Selection Criteria 14 5.3 SEA/Environmental Findings in the Longlisting Process for Reclamation 16 6 Broad Environmental Assessments 19 6.1 Broad Environmental Assessments 19 6.2 Key Environmental Issues of Longlisted Sites 19 6.3 Overall Strategic Environmental Findings of the Longlisted Reclamation Sites 27 7 Site Shortlisting and Key Environmental Issues and Opportunities of the Shortlisted Sites and Artificial Islands 30 7.1 Site Shortlisting Methodology 30 7.2 Site Shortlisting with SEA/Environmental Considerations 30 7.3 Shortlisted Sites, Artificial Islands and Key Environmental Issues and Opportunities 31 REP/98/01 | Rev 11 | SEA REPORT - RECLAMATION (EXECUTIVE SUMMARY) V11 WITH CEDD MARKED UP.DOCX Civil Engineering Development Department Agreement No.
    [Show full text]
  • Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Bottlenose Dolphin Spanish: Delfín Mular French: Grand Dauphin
    1 of 14 Proposal I / 1 PROPOSAL FOR THE INCLUSION OF SPECIES ON THE APPENDICES OF THE CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS A. PROPOSAL: Inclusion of Tursiops truncatus ponticus , population of the Black Sea, on Appendix I B. PROPONENT: Government of Monaco C. SUPPORTING STATEMENT 1. Taxon 1.1 Classis Mammalia 1.2 Ordo Cetacea 1.3 Familia Delphinidae 1.4 Species Tursiops truncatus ponticus, Barabasch, 1940 1.5 Common name(s) English: Bottlenose dolphin, common bottlenose dolphin Spanish: Delfín mular French: Grand dauphin 2. Biological data Two main researchers described Black Sea cetacean morphology (body and skull size) and compared their results with published data from other oceans (Barabash-Nikiforov 1940 and 1960, Kleinenberg 1956). Although those studies used a large number of specimens, they led to opposite conclusions concerning the morphological uniqueness of Black Sea bottlenose dolphins. Barabash-Nikiforov (1940) went so far as to suggest that the Black Sea bottlenose dolphins constitute a separate subspecies: Tursiops truncatus ponticus . More recently, a worldwide study on bottlenose dolphin genetic patterns, which included some Black Sea samples, suggested the isolation of the Black Sea population from Mediterranean populations (Natoli et al. 2003). For CITES (2000, 2002) due to the low sample size from the Black Sea, the study could not conclude that Black Sea bottlenose dolphins are genetically unique. However, in 2003, the IWC Scientific Committee’s Sub-Committee on Small Cetaceans reviewed the status of Black Sea bottlenose dolphins and concluded on the base of new genetic data that this population should be managed for conservation as a distinct entity (IWC 2004).
    [Show full text]
  • B1 Physical Description and Fisheries Setting
    B1 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND FISHERIES SETTING B1.1 INTRODUCTION This Annex provides background information on the Hong Kong fishing and aquaculture industry as well as a high‐level description of the physical and fisheries characters of western Hong Kong waters, in particular north and west Lantau waters. This review provides the basis for identifying key habitats, species, fisheries resources or fishermen that may warrant focused effort in enhancement and support under the Fisheries Management Plan (FMP). A description on the current planning of the 3RS Project is also presented. B1.2 PHYSICAL SETTING The 3RS project area mainly comprises approximately 650 ha of land formation in marine open waters and seawall development of approximately 5.9 km immediately north of the HKIA existing platform in the northern Lantau waters. The resulting loss of seabed comprises of marine sediment and debris formed from natural sedimentation with the influence of flows from the Pearl River Estuary (PRE). The existing seawall is largely constructed of sloping armour rock with the berthing point being constructed of vertical concrete. The hydrodynamic regime in the western Hong Kong waters is complex and varies with a number of factors including the lunar cycle (spring and neap tides), the season and the rate of flow of the Pearl River. In general, the main ebb tide currents flow south along the Urmston Road, with a subsidiary flow bifurcating northwest of Chek Lap Kok to flow south down the west coast of Lantau, and southeast around the east of Chek Lap Kok Island. Flood tides show the reverse pattern. The Pearl River, situated in a sub‐tropical climate, brings along with heavy loads of suspended sediment and nitrates during summer (wet) season and as a consequence concentrations of these parameters within western waters are variable but generally far higher than in the more oceanic influenced waters to the south and east of Hong Kong.
    [Show full text]