Marine mammals and fisheries interactions in Indian seas

Incidental capture of marine mammals in fishing gear is a major cause of concern. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) identified bycatch as one of the serious threats to the marine mammals. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) estimated that at least 308,000 dolphins and porpoises are killed in bycatch every year in the world oceans. The Indian seas support 26 species of cetaceans and one species of sirenian. Until 2003, knowledge on marine mammals of India was restricted to incidental catch of different species in fishing gear. Between 2003 and 2012, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) undertook a research project on marine mammals and conducted extensive visual sighting cruises onboard FORV Sagar Sampada in the Indian EEZ and contiguous seas to explore diversity, distribution and ecological characters of this mega fauna. The project also undertook a survey on the marine mammals that are incidentally captured by fishing gea