Conservation priorities for the tucuxi Sotalia fluviatilis in the Action Plan for Cetacean Conservation 2002-2010

CRESPO, E.A.

Armacao dos Búzios, Búzios, Rio de Janeiro

Workshop; INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION OF DOLPHINS OF THE GENUS SOTALIA; 2006

SOCIEDAD LATINOAMERICANA DE ESPECIALISTAS EN MAMIFEROS ACUATICOS-SOLAMAC

The CSG included the tucuxi Sotalia fluviatilis in 6 projects in the Action Plan for Cetacean Conservation 2002-2010. The main objectives of these projects are: to investigate interactions between river dolphins and fisheries in Amazonia and Orinoquia (P22), to assess existing and planned water development projects and gold mining in the Amazon and Orinoco basins (P23), to develop a conservation strategy for South American river dolphins (P24), to assess fishery interactions with cetaceans in Brazil (P25), to identify threats and evaluate the status of marine tucuxi populations in Brazil (P26) and to investigate stock identity of endemic species in South America (P33). The most important problems detected both in the river and marine environment include incidental mortality in different types of fisheries, habitat loss and destruction, industrial pollution and the construction of dams and barriers in the fresh water ecosystem. The consequence of these human activities is the decline in population numbers and the isolation of local stocks. Given the extension of the tucuxi distribution and the large amount of local impacts, it seems crucial that in the medium term it is necessary to learn more about the population structure of the species and how local groups are related to each other.