Bio-diversity

Background Today dolphins of the region of Tamarin are being harassed. Some days as much as 20 boats are around the same group of dolphins at the same time, chasing the animals around the bay. For the welfare of the animals, boat activities should be managed in the area. However, this activity generates income for the country and decent jobs in the region. Up to the year 2000, pods of spinner dolphin were living in the Tamarin Bay without disturbance. Delphine Legay came in Mauritius to perform a PhD study on the spinner dolphin population of Tamarin Bay. In order to fund her studies, Delphine started to take a few tourists out on her boat for dolphin watching. While she was still alive, she was able to manage the spawning dolphin industry. Unfortunately, Delphine drowned in 2002. After her death, the dolphin watching activity grew with increasing numbers of boats. Today, we are facing a chaotic situation were speed-boats are chasing the dolphins without any respect of their well being. Dolphins are social animals and come to the Tamarin Bay in order to rest, feed, socialise and reproduce. Studies on uncontrolled dolphin watching activity showed that presence of too many boats making noise are stressing the animals, thought changing their feeding, breeding and resting habits (New Scientist vol 181:2437 (March 2004); HASTIE et al, 2003). The stress generated by the uncontrolled dolphin watching activity on theses mammals will surely affect their health, their behavior resulting in a possible departure to a more peaceful area. Objectives The objectives of this project are to raise the public awareness through a regional focused campaign for the protection of whales and dolphins in Mauritius, and specifically secure a sustainable and durable dolphin watching industry for the stakeholders of the tourism industry selling dolphins watching tours in the bay of Tamarin and finally to help local stakeholders and government conceive legislation for the protection of marine mammals. These objectives will be achieved by several approaches: a. Sensitisation Sensitisation will be carried out by the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society and Reef Conservation Mauritius and will consist of: Workshops for stakeholders Production of two leaflets, the first consisting of general information on the biology of marine mammals around the island for tourist information centres, schools, dive centres and general visitors and the second in a more concise form on whale watching Do s and Don ts for boat operators, hotel boat houses and fishing associations. Production of a large poster including general information on the biology of marine mammals and concise techniques for the approach and management of marine mammals. Production of a short video inviting the viewer to respect the environment and marine mammals and to behave responsibly, before undertaking their dolphin watching activity, for projection in educational and recreations venues, as well as on national television. The delivery through animations of Educational booklet: Marine mammals of the Indian Ocean to kids of 8 to 11 years old of the Black River District. b. Training The dolphins of the region of Tamarin are being harassed. Some days as many as 20 boats are around the same group of dolphins at the same time, chasing the animals around the bay. For the welfare of the animals, boat activities should be regulated in the area with the preparation and the dissemination of a Code of Good-Practice acceptable to all stakeholders. This will involve: - Training of boat skippers. Volunteers from the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society and staff of Reef Conservation Mauritius will do the training of the skippers, boat operators, hotel boat house staff and fishermen in the west of Mauritius. The same operation will be repeated if necessary in other regions of the island. - Training of tour guides. Volunteers from the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society and staff of Reef Conservation Mauritius will do the training of those tour guides who sell dolphin-watching activities. It is essential that the tour guides understand the importance of the code of practice and that they can present a good image of the industry. c. Monitoring Monitoring will consist of: Gathering of general information on the behaviour of the marine mammals in Tamarin Bay and the number of boats visiting the area on a regular basis. Gathering information on existing international regulations on Dolphin and Whale watching in order to help the government and stakeholders on the elaboration of the legal documents. d. Legal Aspect The Mauritius Marine Conservation Society will organise a work shop which will include the Government, on the dolphin watching activity in Tamarin Bay. All stakeholders shall be invited. The aim of the workshop will be the production a legal document acceptable and agreed by all which lead to the introduction of a system of permits for dolphin watching operators. The collaboration of several organisations will be needed in order for the workshop to be a success: National Coast Guards, Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Environment, ARHIM, boat owners, skippers, boat clubs and dive centres.

Mauritius