Bertarelli-Annual-Report-2024-LR - Flipbook - Page 19
Marine Science 2023
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Spinner dolphins, Chagos © www.rommel.co.in
Cetacean Refuges
Lead Investigator: Dr. Clare Embling,
University of Plymouth
This project is surveying whale and dolphin species
in the poorly studied central Indian Ocean, with a
focus on the Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago,
using sightings and acoustic surveys while focusing
on regional capacity building. The Wildlife Observer
conducted long term visual census data of cetacean
species at sea in the Chagos Archipelago from the
patrol vessel Grampian Endurance, building data
sets on abundance, distribution and habitat use for
the very first time. These data are combined with
recordings from hydrophones moored at strategic
locations around the archipelago which pick up the
sub-surface vocalisations and seasonal trends of key
species and have revealed a surprising recording of a
humpback whale. A range of other observations were
collected by the Wildlife Observer including turtle
nesting surveys, seabird identifications and records
and samples of sharks confiscated in illegal catches by
fisheries enforcement.
The team also delivered a popular technical training
workshop in Sri Lanka over nine days in May 2023
for 22 Sri Lankan, two Maldivian and one Seychellois
student. The workshop covered statistical analysis in
R, abundance estimation and bioacoustic methods
and was followed by a further half day conference
on marine conservation in the wider Indian Ocean
for all 25 attendees plus ten government officials
and ten additional Sri Lankan students. The training
course received enthusiastic positive feedback from
participants.
Hydrophone deployment © Sharmin Rouf
