Marine Mammals of Guyana

Marine Mammals of Guyana Michelle Kalamandeen, Department of Biology, University of Guyana

Patrick Chesney, Guiana Shield Facility, UNDP

• 214,970 sq km, approximately 90% of its population (751,223) resides along the coastal zone (economic & industrial hub)

• Coastal zone: 430 km long and 26-77 km wide

• Excl. Econ. Zone (EEZ): 135,900 km2

• Shelf area: 51,978 km2

• Inshore Fishing Area (IFA): 22,695 km2

• Diversity & status of marine mammal species remains relatively unknown.

• Little to no research has been conducted on marine mammals in Guyana.

Guyana

Guyana’s EEZ

Species of Marine Mammals occurring in Guyana’s EEZ

• Eubalaena australis (Baleen Whale)

• Delphinus delphis (Common Dolphin) listed by SI or Delphinus capensis (Longbeak Common Dolphin) listed by UNEP-CMS

• Globicephala macrorhynchus (Short finned Pilot Whales)

• Sotalia guianensis (Guianan dolphin) – listed as Appendix II by CMS, Listed as Data Deficient by IUCN (Culik, 2010)

• Feresa attenuata (Pygmy killer whale) – listed by UNEP-CMS

• Kogia breviceps (Pygmy sperm whale) – listed by UNEP-CMS

• Kogia sima (Dwarf sperm whale) – listed by UNEP-CMS

• Lagenodelphis hosei (Fraser's dolphin) - listed by UNEP-CMS

• Stenella clymene (Clymene dolphin) - listed by UNEP-CMS

Limited to coastal strip (rivers):

• Inia geoffrensis (River Dolphin), Trichechus manatus (West Indian Manatee), Trichechus inunguis (Amazonian Manatee)

Sources: Smithsonian Institute website(accessed 2013), UNEP-CMS (2004), and Van Canneyt et al (2010)

Stranding at Shell Beach Protected Area:

2009: Baleen whale (1)

2010: Killer whale (1)

Existing Legislation

• CITES [Appendix I for all marine mammals, except G. macrorhynchus listed as Appendix II]

• Fisheries Act 2002 [refers to marine mammals as bycatch, but no studies on

marine mammals bycatch conducted]. • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Act, 1996 [general protection of

wildlife] • SPAW Protocol [Guyana has ratified & acceded] • DRAFT Wildlife & Conservation Regulations [general protection of wildlife]

SHELL BEACH

PROTECTED AREA

Lack of knowledge on what exists in EEZ = lack of conservation efforts

Increase petroleum/oil explorations

Bycatch /Accidental captures

Increase infrastructure development

Marine Pollution

Lack of political will

Lack of funding & resources

Potential Pressures/Thr

eats

ANY QUESTIONS?