Conservation of marine mammals in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India

Abstract

Marine mammals of Indian coastal and Exclusive Economic Zones are represented by diverse species of cetacea and one species of sirenia. While the coastal waters accommodate the rate cetacean, Orcaella brevirostris and the endangered sirenian, Dugong dugon, the international waters and the EEZ are dominated by both toothed and baleen plate possessing cetaceans represented by five species of dolphins and twelve species of whales. It is suggested that India, being a non-whaling country, must play a leading role by implementing programmes not only towards protection of marine mammals but also by extending a ten year moratorium for whaling and further by establishing in situ conservation programmes for species dwelling along the coastal zone.