Phnom Penh: Cambodia has created Irrawaddy dolphin conservation and protection zones covering a 120-km-long stretch of the Mekong River in the Stung Treng and Kratie provinces, according to a sub-decree.
Signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen, the sub-decree said the safe zone for the rare animal included 35 km in the main channel of the Mekong River in Stung Treng and 85 km in Kratie, reports Xinhua news agency.
“Fishing must be prohibited from the dolphin conservation and protection zones,” the sub-decree said, adding that vessels must not be allowed to travel at the speed of more than 30 km per hour, while aquaculture is also banned.
The move came after three adult dolphins were killed by longline fishing hooks within a week in December 2022.
The Irrawaddy dolphins have been listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species since 2004.
Kratie provincial governor Var Thorn has said that there are about 80 Irrawaddy dolphin population in the Cambodian portion of the Mekong River and that the rare mammal are very attractive to national and international tourists.
The Irrawaddy is a small dolphin that is dark grey in colour with a paler underside, a small rounded dorsal fin and a bluntly rounded head.
It can reach lengths of 2.75m, weighs up to 150 kg, and normally lives in groups of up to 6.
The Irrawaddy dolphin is one of only three whale and dolphin species that occupy both fresh and marine waters.
https://newsroomodisha.com/cambodia-cre ... -dolphins/
Cambodia creates safe zones for rare Mekong River dolphins
- Bong Burgundy
- A Moment of Clarity
- Reactions: 281
- Posts: 2492
- Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 12:20 pm
- Location: K440 Channel 4 News
Cambodia creates safe zones for rare Mekong River dolphins
1
1
Bringing the news. You stay classy, nas, Cambodia.
- Bong Burgundy
- A Moment of Clarity
- Reactions: 281
- Posts: 2492
- Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 12:20 pm
- Location: K440 Channel 4 News
A rare Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphin has been found dead after being entangled in fishermen’s illegal gillnets in northeast Cambodia, the Fisheries Administration said in a statement.
The 2.38-meter-long male dolphin, 160 kg in weight and aged about 20, was spotted dead on Sunday morning in the Mekong River in the Stung Treng province, said the statement.
“The joint research team of Fisheries Administration and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) primarily assessed that the cause of the death was gillnets since there were tears on its stomach, and gillnet marks on its tail base and pelvic fins,” the statement said.
It was the first dolphin found dead in 2023, it added.
WWF-Cambodia country director Seng Teak said this tragic incident occurred amid the implementation of stricter protection measures in line with a government sub-decree announced in February on the Mekong dolphin management zones.
“The illegal fishing activities and the use of illegal fishing gears in dolphin conservation areas remain a challenge although protection measures have been remarkably stepped up in the last few months,” he told Xinhua on Monday.
As dolphins share habitats with other mega fish species and broodstock, their protection is in favor of people’s livelihoods, food sources and food security, Teak said, urging authorities to further strengthen regulation and management concerning dolphin hunting and local fish markets and depots.
“A complete ban on all illegal fishing activities including gillnets, long-line hooks and electro fishing in the dolphin areas would help safeguard this critically endangered species from extinction,” he added.
“More efforts are needed to stop the illegal dolphin trade,” he noted.
The Irrawaddy dolphins have been listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species since 2004.
The Fisheries Administration said there are about 90 Irrawaddy dolphins living in the Cambodian portion of the Mekong River in the Kratie and Stung Treng provinces.
The government last month issued a sub-decree on the creation of the dolphin conservation and protection zones covering a 120-km-long stretch of the Mekong River in the two provinces. “Fishing must be prohibited from the dolphin conservation and protection zones,” the sub-decree said.
https://dailytimes.com.pk/1075418/cambo ... h-in-2023/
The 2.38-meter-long male dolphin, 160 kg in weight and aged about 20, was spotted dead on Sunday morning in the Mekong River in the Stung Treng province, said the statement.
“The joint research team of Fisheries Administration and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) primarily assessed that the cause of the death was gillnets since there were tears on its stomach, and gillnet marks on its tail base and pelvic fins,” the statement said.
It was the first dolphin found dead in 2023, it added.
WWF-Cambodia country director Seng Teak said this tragic incident occurred amid the implementation of stricter protection measures in line with a government sub-decree announced in February on the Mekong dolphin management zones.
“The illegal fishing activities and the use of illegal fishing gears in dolphin conservation areas remain a challenge although protection measures have been remarkably stepped up in the last few months,” he told Xinhua on Monday.
As dolphins share habitats with other mega fish species and broodstock, their protection is in favor of people’s livelihoods, food sources and food security, Teak said, urging authorities to further strengthen regulation and management concerning dolphin hunting and local fish markets and depots.
“A complete ban on all illegal fishing activities including gillnets, long-line hooks and electro fishing in the dolphin areas would help safeguard this critically endangered species from extinction,” he added.
“More efforts are needed to stop the illegal dolphin trade,” he noted.
The Irrawaddy dolphins have been listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species since 2004.
The Fisheries Administration said there are about 90 Irrawaddy dolphins living in the Cambodian portion of the Mekong River in the Kratie and Stung Treng provinces.
The government last month issued a sub-decree on the creation of the dolphin conservation and protection zones covering a 120-km-long stretch of the Mekong River in the two provinces. “Fishing must be prohibited from the dolphin conservation and protection zones,” the sub-decree said.
https://dailytimes.com.pk/1075418/cambo ... h-in-2023/
Bringing the news. You stay classy, nas, Cambodia.
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
Something Is Very Wrong on the Mekong River
by RiverRat » Tue Aug 27, 2019 5:07 pm » in Cambodia Speakeasy - 10 Replies
- 5103 Views
-
Last post by RiverRat
Mon Dec 23, 2019 8:58 am
-
-
-
Birders, what's this and how protected/rare is it?
by 1984 » Thu Nov 21, 2019 1:41 pm » in Cambodia Speakeasy - 26 Replies
- 4934 Views
-
Last post by Barang_doa_slae
Tue Nov 26, 2019 6:40 pm
-
-
-
Young engineer creates rocket shooting truck
by Bong Burgundy » Thu May 21, 2020 10:39 pm » in Cambodia News - 0 Replies
- 1784 Views
-
Last post by Bong Burgundy
Thu May 21, 2020 10:39 pm
-
-
-
FYI THAI related;;;;Six places defined as dangerous zones
by Phuket2006 » Fri Mar 06, 2020 8:54 am » in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Lao forums - 0 Replies
- 1350 Views
-
Last post by Phuket2006
Fri Mar 06, 2020 8:54 am
-
-
-
Cambodia Launches River Clean-Up, Urges Factories for Pollution Control Measures
by Bong Burgundy » Sun Mar 03, 2024 8:06 am » in Cambodia News - 0 Replies
- 287 Views
-
Last post by Bong Burgundy
Sun Mar 03, 2024 8:06 am
-