Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin Conservation in Kenya

Indian Ocean humpback dolphin numbers are declining, primarily due to human activities coinciding with its preferred inshore locations for foraging and breeding, in the Lamu Archipelago North Kenya.

This project aims to investigate the habitat use and connectivity of endangered Indian Ocean (IO) humpback dolphin populations in Lamu Archipelago and the human pressures and threats they face. These include bycatch from fishing and other anthropogenic activities arising out of port development. We intend to identify and to help mitigate these threats to support efforts in a marine mammal conservation management strategy. We are collaborating with indigenous fisher communities to provide education and awareness and to ensure their participation in conservation activities and planning.

This work will fill in data gaps to determine distribution patterns and identify preferred habitats of the humpback dolphin and movements along the Kenyan coast. Through identifying the main hotspots, it is expected that we will have sufficient data to renew an application to the International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN) Important Marine Mammal Area status. In this way we will determine the value of the area for this declining species to raise awareness and identify alternative incomes through eco- tourism. Also we will engage local industry and government in developing measures to reduce risk and minimize injury to the target species and other inshore species.