Phase I – Sustainable Dolphin Tourism in East Africa

The overall aim of this project was to build the capacity for developing, conducting and managing dolphin tourism. Specifically the project aimed at generating necessary information for conservation and management schemes for safeguarding the future of marine mammals in the region as well as the local economies that are reliant on the animals. The targeted beneficiaries of the project were local communities including fishermen, boat and tour operators and the scientific community as a whole.

Both basic and applied research was conducted to assess the status and promote effective conservation and management of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) populations and tourism activities while accounting for local socio-economic aspects. In order to implement this, an interdisciplinary approach provided scientific information on the animals’ distribution, abundance, mortality, genetic population structure, biology, ecology, and information on human social and socio-economic structure. The project was conducted in two geographical areas where dolphin tourism activities are ongoing in East Africa; south coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania and Ponta do Ouro, Mozambique. Additional studies were also conducted at Inhaca Island, Mozambique.

The project provided scientific information for Indo-Pacific bottlenose and humpback dolphins on population parameters such as population size, diversity, distribution, behaviour, demography and genetic population structure i.e. First estimates of population size for East African dolphin were produced in this study. The study also indicated a clear genetic break in mtDNA sequence data, which isolate Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins sampled off the north and south coasts of Zanzibar, and indication that these two populations are separate management entities. However, life history characteristics of the Indo- Pacific bottlenose dolphins off Zanzibar were similar to that of bottlenose dolphins from other geographical areas. Six species of dolphins were identified with the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) being the most common. Other species include spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris), Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus), Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis), pan-spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) and common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). The study has further revealed that bycatch from both driftnet and bottom set gillnet fishery are the major causes of dolphin mortality. Although dolphin tourism have become important for local economies, increasing levels of tourism activities has led to behavioural changes in female dolphins off the South coast of Zanzibar may reduce the available time for important behaviours such as foraging and nursing which ultimately may reduce fitness on both individual and population level.

This project has also made contributions to management and decision making processes. In realization of the importance of stakeholder involvement in sustainable dolphin tourism, this project led to establishment of Kizimkazi Dolphin Tourism Operators Association (KIDOTOA) in 2005. This project also came up with a draft management plan as a step towards sustainable dolphin tourism in Menai Bay, Zanzibar. Furthermore, during this project the first intensive training course in sustainable dolphin tourism for tour guides was held in Zanzibar in 2005.

The project spinned off other projects including mitigation of the dolphin and whale fisheries bycatch by using acoustic deterrent (pingers) devices and development of alternative fishing gear that could replace drift- and bottom set gillnets, establishment of long – term monitoring programmes by training local students in using   photographic identification and other field sampling methods, conducting behavioral studies of dolphins between no dolphin and ongoing dolphin tourism activities areas and creating a marine mammal research centre that can facilitate and coordinate marine mammal research and education in the WIO.

This project identified further research areas, which WIOMSA can focus on. Studies may be on resolving the population structure, gene flow and phylogenetic placement of the bottlenose dolphins throughout the western Indian Ocean investigating the magnitude of the large number of dolphins bycatch noted in this, establishing   movements, migration and seasonal patterns of dolphins; determining hunting behaviour and food preference; establish   critical habitat ‘home range’, including feeding, mating   and calving grounds of dolphins. General socio-economic analysis; tourism trends; gillnet fishing survey and analysis; boat use survey may also be studied.