Dolphins Research

Dolphins in Central Peruvian Coast Dolphin Photo-Identification Project

Studies and undercover-investigations of the existing black market on dolphin meat undertaken by Mundo Azul suggest that up to three thousand dolphins and porpoises are killed illegally for human consumption in Peru every year. Local poverty is such a strong burden along the Peruvian coast that sometimes artisan fishermen are driven to take part in extremely damaging and illegal fishing practices such as dynamite fishing. Some also participate in the killing of protected wildlife, either as a measure to cull supposed competition (sea lions and fur seals) or for human consumption (Humboldt penguins and other marine birds, marine turtles and dolphins).

Dusky dolphin (© Stephen Johnson)

Because Peru is rich in marine wildlife -- including more than 30 species of whales and dolphins -- it has great potential as a dolphin- and whale watching destination. This kind of business has not yet been developed in Peru, and may provide alternative jobs to those local artisan fishermen suffering from the job loss and increased poverty related to over-fished resources.

Earning money through employment related to dolphin-watching tourism has a great potential to provide an alternative to illegal dolphin killing and may turn illegal hunters into convinced dolphin-conservationists.

But in order to be able to develop tourism projects -- as well as to monitor the negative impact of dolphin killing and the potential positive impacts of future tourism projects -- we need to have exact information about the size and range area of the dolphin populations present along the Peruvian coast.

The dolphin-photo-identification project of Mundo Azul is designed to systematically collect this information, and is therefore of major importance in creating the basis for real change in favor of biodiversity conservation. Long-term research, however, needs more than the often restricted funds available for short-term projects. It requires a sustained monitoring effort of dolphin populations, as well as continuing work towards the training and environmental education of the fishermen and other locals who want to become involved in dolphin conservation and dolphin watching tourism.

This project received a start-up fund by the British conservation foundation

This is how you can help protect dolphins: