Marine Science 202317Spinner dolphins, Chagos © www.rommel.co.inCetacean RefugesLead Investigator: Dr. Clare Embling,University of PlymouthThis project is surveying whale and dolphin speciesin the poorly studied central Indian Ocean, with afocus on the Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago,using sightings and acoustic surveys while focusingon regional capacity building. The Wildlife Observerconducted long term visual census data of cetaceanspecies at sea in the Chagos Archipelago from thepatrol vessel Grampian Endurance, building datasets on abundance, distribution and habitat use forthe very first time. These data are combined withrecordings from hydrophones moored at strategiclocations around the archipelago which pick up thesub-surface vocalisations and seasonal trends of keyspecies and have revealed a surprising recording of ahumpback whale. A range of other observations werecollected by the Wildlife Observer including turtlenesting surveys, seabird identifications and recordsand samples of sharks confiscated in illegal catches byfisheries enforcement.The team also delivered a popular technical trainingworkshop in Sri Lanka over nine days in May 2023for 22 Sri Lankan, two Maldivian and one Seychelloisstudent. The workshop covered statistical analysis inR, abundance estimation and bioacoustic methodsand was followed by a further half day conferenceon marine conservation in the wider Indian Oceanfor all 25 attendees plus ten government officialsand ten additional Sri Lankan students. The trainingcourse received enthusiastic positive feedback fromparticipants.Hydrophone deployment © Sharmin Rouf
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