WDCS in the Central West Pacific

The South East Asian region is a combined temperate and tropical region, with many island and coastal ecosystems. The coastal fishing intensity in this region has meant that dolphin bycatch has been high. Species in the Central West Pacific and South China Sea also face habitat loss and degradation, prey depletion, chemical pollution, live captures and directed hunts.

A CMS regional agreement for the Conservation of Cetaceans and their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region now covers part of this region and WDCS is working towards an additional agreement in South East Asia.

WDCS's historical contribution to this region has included conservation projects to protect:

• Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin in the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand;
• Irrawaddy dolphin in Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam;
• Melon-headed whale in the Tanon Strait, Philippines;
• Short-finned pilot whale in the Tanon Strait, Philippines; and
• Humpback whales in the Babuyan Islands, Philippines.

Issues WDCS is currently working on in this region:

WDCS CMS Programme
WDCS Species Programme

Current field projects include:

Indonesia, Balikpapan Bay, East Kalimantan - Various species: Danielle Kreb introduces us to the diversity of cetacean species that live in the waters off the Indonesian Archipelago.