Marine Mammal Research and Conservation in India

Marine mammals are probably one of the best sentinel organisms in aquatic and coastal environments because many species have long life spans and have extensive fat stores that can serve as depots for anthropogenic toxins. Marine mammals in the Indian EEZ are one of the least studied animals. In India, 26 species of cetaceans and one species of sirenian have been recorded. In recent years, with increasing fishing activity and extension of fishing to oceanic waters, the encounters between fishing gear and marine mammals are on the rise. The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) initiated the study of marine mammals in India in the 1950s. Since then the knowledge base on these charismatic animals in the Indian EEZ has substantially increased. This is causing concern in the effort to conserve these mega fauna, which are protected under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. From a vast network of trained field staff located at its research and field centers along the Indian coast, the CMFRI has and published information on occasional stranding, sighting and accidental gear entanglement for more than 60 years. Research on distribution, abundance, species identity, molecular sequencing and fisheries interaction was strengthened after initiating a project on marine mammals in the year 2003. The conservation status of marine mammals in India and the research needs are discussed in the paper in detail