Download Tucuxi dolphins, Brazil - Whale and Dolphin Conservation

Tucuxi dolphins, Brazil
© Aquasis
Katherine Choi examines human-related impacts on a marine tucuxi
dolphin population in Mucuripe Bay, Fortaleza, Ceara State, Brazil
Location: Mucuripe Bay, Fortaleza, NE Brazil
Species: marine tucuxi dolphin, Sotalia
guianensis
Researchers: Thaís Campos, Katherine Choi,
Ana Carolina Meirelles
Background
© Aquasis
This population of marine tucuxi dolphins is under
high anthropogenic pressure, especially from fishing
An aerial view of Mucuripe Bay in the State of Ceará, Brazil. The dolphins here are
living in very close proximity to the human population.
activities and other human related impacts. A lot
of sources of pollution have been reported for the
Mucuripe Bay area, like oil, raw sewage and antifouling
“This population
of marine tucuxi
dolphins is
under high
anthropogenic
pressure...”
paints, and residues from vessels, including the
possible discharge of ballast water from long-range
ships that can also introduce pathogenic and exotic
species. The marine tucuxi dolphin is also a tourist
attraction in Mucuripe Bay, appealling for the citizens
and tourists who visit Iracema Beach, where the
majority of the sightings are located. The species can
be used as a symbol to promote the conservation in
the coastal waters of the city, improving the quality of
the coastal zone in Fortaleza.
Objectives:
●● The main goal of this project is to identify the
major anthropogenic impacts on the marine tucuxi
dolphin population in Mucuripe Bay,
●● To conduct an awareness campaign with fishers
and other stakeholders to promote short-term actions
for the conservation of this species.
●● The project will also produce a cartographic
database of threats and impacts in the area; and
propose conservation actions to mitigate the impacts
for the species and its feeding habitats.
© Aquasis
The marine tucuxi dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) is
the marine mammal with the highest mortality in
the State of Ceará (NE Brazil). The Brazilian NGO
Aquasis has been monitoring marine mammal
strandings along the 600km coastline of this state
for the past 15 years, and they believe that the
marine tucuxi population is declining in Mucuripe
Bay. Among 20 different species of cetaceans
recorded in this period, the marine tucuxi dolphin
represents more than 60% of the total number of
strandings, with 168 records. In spite of these high
numbers, we believe that dolphin mortality for
the state is still underestimated, since systematic
monitoring has only been performed in the
Mucuripe Bay, Fortaleza Metro Area.
The species conservation status is poorly known.
Major international conservation organizations
consider it as Data Deficient (IUCN 2006). An
intensive monitoring effort conducted by Aquasis since
1992 in Iracema Beach (Mucuripe Bay, Fortaleza
Metropolitan Area) has shown a decrease in group
size and frequency of sightings. According to Meirelles
(2005), who did research in Iracema Beach using
photo-identification has shown that marine tucuxi
dolphins have some degree of site fidelity, and this
area represents an important feeding habitat for the
species. Mucuripe Bay is located between the mouth
of the River Ceará and Mucuripe Harbor, the most
important port facility in the state, dealing mainly with
fishing products, grains, and oil.
Recent studies have determined that there are two distinct
species of tucuxi dolphin; marine and freshwater.
© WDCS
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Tucuxi dolphins (pronounced too-coo-she) can sometimes
be confused with bottlenose dolphins.
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