Title
Review of the conservation status and establishment of protected areas for the Irrawaddy Dolphin in the Ayeyarwady River
Author(s)
Tun, M.T.;Chit, A.M
Published
2009
Abstract
The Union of Myanmar (formally Burma) is an extensive
country bordering the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.
The country has four large river systems, namely the
Ayeyarwady (formerly Irrawaddy) (2170 km long), the
Chindwin (960 km), the Sittaung (298 km) and the
Thanlwin (1274 km) and all these rivers flow from the
north to the south and empty in the Andaman Sea.
Irrawaddy Dolphins, Orcaella brevirostris, are patchily
distributed in shallow, nearshore waters and are often
associated with estuaries and mangrove forests. They also
occur far upstream in the Ayeyarwady River system of
Myanmar. The earliest reference to dolphins in the
Irrawaddy River is from the New T’ang History about 800
A.D., which mentions trade in ‘river pigs’ among the Pyu
people. Anderson (1879) observed Irrawaddy dolphins in
the Ayeyarwady River and found that they occur no
further downstream than Prome (Pyay), which is about
360 km from the sea. The first systematic and scientific
survey conducted in 2002, provided a best population size
estimate of 37 individuals. The second and third survey
conducted in 2003 and 2004, provided estimates of 59
and 72 individuals. Additionally, during three years of
surveys, threats and distribution patterns were mapped in
the river segment between Mandalay to Bhamo.
Destructive fishing techniques using voltage power,
gillnets, dynamite, and poison were identified as main
threats to the dolphins. In December 2005, the Ministry of
Livestock and Fisheries of the Department of Fisheries
announced the dolphin protected area between Mingun
and Kyauk Myaung of 74 kilometres length where the
unique culture of cooperative fishing with dolphin and
cast net fishermen is being practiced. The Irrawaddy
Dolphin Protected Area Management Plan was developed
after conducting extensive meetings, workshops and a
series of discussions to obtain input from local
government officials, fish contractors, fishermen, village
leaders and Buddhist monks. This input was carefully
considered, incorporated into the plan and used to ensure
that it would address the needs of wildlife protection as
well as human livelihoods and welfare. This management
plan was agreed by the meeting of the Management
Committee (MC) of the Ministry of Livestock and
Fisheries, which was held on the 7th of July, 2009
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PUB14879