Ecological perspectives for co-management of the Brahmaputra River: from the eyes of a dolphin

Prof Rezaur Rehman, IWFM, BUET, Dhaka

Freshwater dolphin species

• Yellow river dolphin (Baiji)

• Ganges river dolphin (Shushuk)

• Indus river dolphin

• Amazon river dolphin (Pink dolphin or boto)

Status of freshwater dolphin species

• Yellow river dolphin (Baiji)

• Ganges river dolphin (Shushuk)

• Indus river dolphin

• Amazon River dolphin (Pink dolphin or boto)

Effect of water development on river dolphins

– Embankments

– High dams

– Barrages

– Closures

– Groins and spurs

– Withdrawal of surface water

– Dredging and loop-cutting

Threats from other human activities

– Use of dolphin products

– Fisheries by-catch

– Directed catch

– Overexploitation of fisheries

– Pollution

Status of Dolphins in the BrahmaputraUpper Brahmaputra(Wakid, A. & Braulik, G. , 2009)

o Number – 264 in 1044 km

o Threats – Fish by-catch

o Conservation – Awareness, Regulation, Sanctuaries

Lower Brahmaputra (Smith et. al., 1998)

o Number – 38~58 in 190 kmo Threats – Fish by-catch,

directed hunting, Water development projects

o Conservation – Awareness, regulation, Sanctuaries, fish friendly structures, Non-structural flood management

Co-management of Brahmaputra river

• River as a continuum

• Need for trans-boundary cooperation for dolphin conservation is well recognized

‘in order to conserve dolphins and maintain genetic viability national efforts alone may not be adequate. Bilateral cooperation at the regional level is necessary’ (WWF, 2006)

Trans-boundary cooperation opportunities (WWF, 2006)

Entry points

• Gangetic Dolphin is the National Aquatic Animal of India (declared in 2009)

• Co-management of Sundarbans agreed between Bangladesh and India (Signed in 2012)

• Joint survey and tracking

• IUCN joint studies (Ecosystems for life)

• Awareness campaigns

Thank you for your attention