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WHALES & DOLPHINS

Although Seychelles is located in the Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary, few specific surveys for cetaceans have been reported in Seychelles and while there are a few more general surveys, no recent research work has been carried out specifically on this group in Seychelles.

According to these surveys and to several authors, there are 41 species of cetaceans occurring in the Indian Ocean (IWC, 1980). Of these 25 species have been recorded as occurring in Seychelles waters from  various sources including historical bibliography on whaling activities, interviews and personal observations of stranded or living cetaceans. 

A number of cetaceans are currently observed in the area, in particular dolphins, humpback whales, sperm whales and false killer whales.

MARINE MAMMAL WORKSHOP PROCEEDINGS

MARINE MAMMAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 

In 2002, the Zoological Society of Paris (ZSP) and the Paris Natural History Museum, the Seychelles Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) and the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS)  joined to develop a Volunteer Observer Network for Cetaceans in the Seychelles. The objective was to create a tool for the acquisition of regular data regarding the populations of cetaceans that may contribute to plan specific studies and take decisions as to the conservation programmes run by the MENR.

When the Observer Network was set up,  a series of interviews were carried out so as to assess the number of sightings of Cetaceans in the Seychelles waters, confirming the regular or seasonal presence of a very rich biodiversity as regards marine mammals.

The number of data collected between 2002 and 2004 by the network proved very limited and in 2004 Stéphane Hergueta (ZSP) proposed  the creation of a Marine Mammal Observatory in the Seychelles. This local and perennial structure would be a tool for both the expertise and sustainable management of a part of the Seychelles natural heritage. 

The first workshop towards the implementation of the observatory was held in January 2005 and the Proceedings (445Kb) and Memorandum of Understanding (104Kb) from this workshop can be downloaded in pdf format from the links to the left.

Photos on this page courtesy Stéphan Hergueta  

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