Imran Samad
Other projects
1 Nov 2023
Life in the Fast Lane: Understanding the Interactive Effects of Two Major Anthropogenic Stressors – Tourism and Fisheries – On the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin
Indian Ocean humpback dolphins (Sousa plumbea) occur very close to the coast and overlap greatly with anthropogenic activities such as fisheries, tourism, infrastructure development, etc., which are the primary reasons for them being classified as Endangered by the IUCN. In my previous work, I combined stranding data on humpback dolphins with information on ocean currents in Goa to explore the trends in humpback dolphin mortality and found that mortality levels are high but are also difficult to interpret due to the lack of information on their seasonal presence in the region. I also studied their interactions with tourism and fisheries using drones and found that tourism can severely impact humpback dolphin behaviour depending on the number of tourist vessels present, their distance from the animals, and the size and composition of humpback dolphin pods.
While the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin usually occurs in pod sizes ranging between 2-6 individuals in Goa, solitary individuals are often seen either traveling or foraging nearshore.
In this project, I aim to fill these knowledge gaps and work with tour operators to help develop methods to reduce the impact of tourism on dolphins and promote a holistic eco-tourism strategy. The main aims of this project are:
• To estimate the seasonal abundance and shift in the distribution of humpback dolphins along Goa’s coastline. I will compare population size estimates from boat-based surveys across seasons with estimated mortality levels and infer the impact of mortality on their population.
• To engage locals and tourists in informed dolphin watching. With help from local tour operators, our team will develop outreach materials including a documentary, short videos, and posters to help generate awareness of the presence of humpback dolphins in Goa and how they are impacted by human activities such as unregulated tourism.
• To co-develop eco-tourism practices with tour operators and initiate dialogues on community-based dolphin monitoring. Our team will work closely with local tour operators and develop strategies to steer towards a holistic experience of dolphin watching, with minimal disturbance to the animals. This will include presenting our results to tour operators along with case studies of how dolphin tourism is managed in other countries, and then mutually come up with practical guidelines for dolphin watching. We will monitor challenges faced by operators in implementing these guidelines and modify them accordingly throughout the project’s duration.