Two letters appeared in the Taipei Times yesterday with reference to the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins. The first letter, titled Preserving our environment was written by Bruno Walther, a visiting assistant professor of environmental science at Taipei Medical University. He comments on the Erlin Science Park, the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins and the "growing realization that the economy and the environment are intricately linked."
The second letter was from Robin Winkler, a Taipei-based lawyer and founding director of the Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association [Robin Winkler's letter follows Bruno Walther's letter on the letter page]. Robin clarifies some points made in a previous Taipei Times article to avoid any confusion over the protection status of the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Swimming Channel for the White Dolphins? A Sudden Burst of a Marvelous Idea from Ma Government
A translation of a recent article that appeared in the China times. The translation is courtesy of Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association's translation department [material in brackets added by translator for clarification].
China Times, 7 November 2009
Swimming Channel for the White Dolphins? A Sudden Burst of a Marvelous Idea from Ma Government
Rong Hua-yi/Reporting in Taipei
Premier Wu Dun-yi acknowledged that the effluents from the Central Science Park Fourth Stage would go “directly into the ocean”, however, conservation groups and Democratic Progressive Party legislator Tien Chiu-Chin yesterday raised doubts about this, as it would mean a serious breach of the near extinct “Chinese White Dolphin’s” habitat. In order to address this the Ma government has come up with the “marvelous idea”: consideration of a “construction a special water lane” and training the dolphins to swim away from the pollution. Problem is that in the assessment of the local experts “there will be a very high degree of difficulty”.
Conservationists yesterday made a plea for the Chinese White dolphin yesterday, including the chairman of the Eastern Taiwan Strait Sousa Technical Advisory Working Group, Peter S. Ross, and the chairman of the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Cetacean Specialist Group, Randall R. Reeves, Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association chair Robin Winkler, and John Tsai chair of the Changhua Environmental Protection Union.
The Chinese White dolphin, also called the “Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin”, and known as “Matsu’s Fishor baiwua” in Taiwanese [?], is classified by the Forestry Bureau as being in the highest category of protection, and inhabits shallow seas near to the shore, there are currently about 90 animals remaining; they are active in the coastal waters from Miaoli to Chiayi, they are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as Critically Endangered, facing life threatening factors of polluted water, lack of fresh water, land reclamation, fishing nets, marine noise, lack of food, starvation.
The Forestry Bureau of the Council of Agriculture Specialist LIU, Cyong-lian stated that the planned destination for the Central Science Park’s pollution discharge was in the area where the Chinese dolphins are active, and that an interagency committee under the Executive Yuan had met with Kuokuang Petrochemical, local and foreign experts to discuss how to mitigate the impact on the dolphins, with one possible solution having been offered being to “build a dedicated channel for the dolphins to swim through”.
Assistant Professor Otto Li of the Institute of Marine Affairs at National Sun Yat Sen University pointed out that getting the dolphins to “obediently use the swimming channel”, while there are examples in other contries, but they used natural fjords whereas Taiwan lacks such geological formations and would require it to be entirely constructed by humans with a very high cost and no precedent. Furthermore, the dolphins won’t necessarily be so obedient and experts on animal behavior think this is impossible.
中國時報 2009.11.07
白海豚游水道？馬政府突發奇想
戎華儀／台北報導
行政院長吳敦義承諾，中科四期汙水將「直接排入海中」，但保育團體與民進黨立委田秋堇 昨日質疑，此舉會嚴重破壞瀕臨滅絕的「中華白海豚」棲息海域。為解決此問題，馬政府曾一度「突發奇想」，考慮「築一條專用水道」，訓練海豚游水道以避開汙 水，只是國內外專家評估「難度很高」。
東台灣海峽白海豚技術顧問工作小組主席羅斯（Peter S. Ross）、國際自然保育聯盟鯨類專家小組主席瑞維斯（Randall R. Reeves）、台灣蠻野心足生態協會理事長文魯彬、彰化環境保護聯盟理事長蔡嘉陽等保育人士，昨日為中華白海豚請命。
中華白海豚又稱「印太洋駝海豚」，俗稱「媽祖魚、白魚吳」，林務局列為一級保育動物，以近岸、淺海為棲息海域，目前僅剩約九十隻，活動於 苗栗到嘉義沿海，生育率低，被國際自然保育聯盟（ＩＵＣＮ）列為「瀕臨滅絕」生物，面臨汙水排放、缺乏淡水、填海造陸、漁具誤纏、水中噪音和糧食不足、飢 餓等生存危機。
農委會林務局簡任技正劉瓊蓮表示，中科汙水預訂排放的區域就在中華白海豚活動的海域內，行政院跨部會小組曾和國光石化、國內外學者專家討論如何降低對海豚的衝擊，其中一個做法，是「築水道讓海豚游過」。
中山大學海洋事務研究所助理教授李政諦指出，要海豚「乖乖游水道」雖在國外有先例，但利用的是天然峽灣地形，台灣西岸沿海沒有這樣的地形，必須完全人工興築，費用高昂，全球沒有先例，且海豚是否真的乖乖走水道，動物行為專家認為要實際執行幾乎不可能。
其他因應方案包括以棲地復育方式，順應中華白海豚在平均七點多公尺深的海域活動的習性，在填海造陸時墊高新生地沿岸的海底，創造淺海地形，花費比築水道稍低，但也是一大工程。
李政諦說，「盡可能不要產生（汙水）是最好。」他指，既然官方和國光石化都在想各種方案，表示大家都知道汙水可能造成生態衝擊，只是，包括「讓海豚乖乖游水道」等方案，沒有科學證據證明確實能解決問題，「做了，只能說聊表心意。」
http://life.chinatimes.com/2009Cti/Channel/Life/life-article/0,5047,11051801+112009110700036,00.html
China Times, 7 November 2009
Swimming Channel for the White Dolphins? A Sudden Burst of a Marvelous Idea from Ma Government
Rong Hua-yi/Reporting in Taipei
Premier Wu Dun-yi acknowledged that the effluents from the Central Science Park Fourth Stage would go “directly into the ocean”, however, conservation groups and Democratic Progressive Party legislator Tien Chiu-Chin yesterday raised doubts about this, as it would mean a serious breach of the near extinct “Chinese White Dolphin’s” habitat. In order to address this the Ma government has come up with the “marvelous idea”: consideration of a “construction a special water lane” and training the dolphins to swim away from the pollution. Problem is that in the assessment of the local experts “there will be a very high degree of difficulty”.
Conservationists yesterday made a plea for the Chinese White dolphin yesterday, including the chairman of the Eastern Taiwan Strait Sousa Technical Advisory Working Group, Peter S. Ross, and the chairman of the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Cetacean Specialist Group, Randall R. Reeves, Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association chair Robin Winkler, and John Tsai chair of the Changhua Environmental Protection Union.
The Chinese White dolphin, also called the “Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin”, and known as “Matsu’s Fishor baiwua” in Taiwanese [?], is classified by the Forestry Bureau as being in the highest category of protection, and inhabits shallow seas near to the shore, there are currently about 90 animals remaining; they are active in the coastal waters from Miaoli to Chiayi, they are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as Critically Endangered, facing life threatening factors of polluted water, lack of fresh water, land reclamation, fishing nets, marine noise, lack of food, starvation.
The Forestry Bureau of the Council of Agriculture Specialist LIU, Cyong-lian stated that the planned destination for the Central Science Park’s pollution discharge was in the area where the Chinese dolphins are active, and that an interagency committee under the Executive Yuan had met with Kuokuang Petrochemical, local and foreign experts to discuss how to mitigate the impact on the dolphins, with one possible solution having been offered being to “build a dedicated channel for the dolphins to swim through”.
Assistant Professor Otto Li of the Institute of Marine Affairs at National Sun Yat Sen University pointed out that getting the dolphins to “obediently use the swimming channel”, while there are examples in other contries, but they used natural fjords whereas Taiwan lacks such geological formations and would require it to be entirely constructed by humans with a very high cost and no precedent. Furthermore, the dolphins won’t necessarily be so obedient and experts on animal behavior think this is impossible.
中國時報 2009.11.07
白海豚游水道？馬政府突發奇想
戎華儀／台北報導
行政院長吳敦義承諾，中科四期汙水將「直接排入海中」，但保育團體與民進黨立委田秋堇 昨日質疑，此舉會嚴重破壞瀕臨滅絕的「中華白海豚」棲息海域。為解決此問題，馬政府曾一度「突發奇想」，考慮「築一條專用水道」，訓練海豚游水道以避開汙 水，只是國內外專家評估「難度很高」。
東台灣海峽白海豚技術顧問工作小組主席羅斯（Peter S. Ross）、國際自然保育聯盟鯨類專家小組主席瑞維斯（Randall R. Reeves）、台灣蠻野心足生態協會理事長文魯彬、彰化環境保護聯盟理事長蔡嘉陽等保育人士，昨日為中華白海豚請命。
中華白海豚又稱「印太洋駝海豚」，俗稱「媽祖魚、白魚吳」，林務局列為一級保育動物，以近岸、淺海為棲息海域，目前僅剩約九十隻，活動於 苗栗到嘉義沿海，生育率低，被國際自然保育聯盟（ＩＵＣＮ）列為「瀕臨滅絕」生物，面臨汙水排放、缺乏淡水、填海造陸、漁具誤纏、水中噪音和糧食不足、飢 餓等生存危機。
農委會林務局簡任技正劉瓊蓮表示，中科汙水預訂排放的區域就在中華白海豚活動的海域內，行政院跨部會小組曾和國光石化、國內外學者專家討論如何降低對海豚的衝擊，其中一個做法，是「築水道讓海豚游過」。
中山大學海洋事務研究所助理教授李政諦指出，要海豚「乖乖游水道」雖在國外有先例，但利用的是天然峽灣地形，台灣西岸沿海沒有這樣的地形，必須完全人工興築，費用高昂，全球沒有先例，且海豚是否真的乖乖走水道，動物行為專家認為要實際執行幾乎不可能。
其他因應方案包括以棲地復育方式，順應中華白海豚在平均七點多公尺深的海域活動的習性，在填海造陸時墊高新生地沿岸的海底，創造淺海地形，花費比築水道稍低，但也是一大工程。
李政諦說，「盡可能不要產生（汙水）是最好。」他指，既然官方和國光石化都在想各種方案，表示大家都知道汙水可能造成生態衝擊，只是，包括「讓海豚乖乖游水道」等方案，沒有科學證據證明確實能解決問題，「做了，只能說聊表心意。」
http://life.chinatimes.com/2009Cti/Channel/Life/life-article/0,5047,11051801+112009110700036,00.html
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin habitat in Taiwan: Report of an international expert panel convened in Taipei, Nov 2-5 2009
Below is a brief report released after the 2009 ETS Sousa Habitat Workshop.
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin habitat in Taiwan:
Report of an international expert panel convened in Taipei, Nov 2-5 2009
Taipei (November 5, 2009): An international panel of scientists convened in Taipei to propose boundaries for priority habitat for a critically endangered population of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) in Taiwan. With fewer than 100 individuals remaining, this isolated population is found in the shallow, nearshore waters of central western Taiwan. These dolphins are threatened by pollution, noise, bycatch in fishing nets, and habitat changes caused by reduced release of water to estuaries and land reclamation.
The panel was convened at the request of the Eastern Taiwan Strait Sousa Technical Advisory Working Group (ETSSTAWG), a scientific body with 17 national and international experts on marine mammal biology and ecology. The panel spent three days drafting a plan to describe and propose priority habitat, considered as necessary to their survival and recovery.
The expert panel will be delivering its manuscript to a scientific journal for review and publication shortly, thereby enabling wide international review of the proposal. While this work focused on preparing a scientific rationale for priority habitat for this dolphin population, it is hoped that government, industry and non-governmental sectors can use the proposal as a basis for enacting protection measures.
Briefly, the panel proposes a priority habitat area with boundaries to the north of the Danshui River estuary down along the western coast to just south of Tseng-Wen River estuary. The boundaries will extend from the shoreline (relative to the lowest high tide of the year) out 3 km (relative to the lowest low tide of the year), or to the 30 m depth mark, whichever is further from the shore. This priority habitat area includes all waters within which there have been confirmed sightings of these dolphins, as well as areas to the north and south and further offshore that are deemed ‘suitable’ for dolphin use based on known habitat preferences.
The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins of Taiwan will go extinct in the absence of immediate protection measures which target fisheries, water use, construction, waste discharge, and noise-producing practices within this priority habitat area.
The Eastern Taiwan Strait Sousa Technical Advisory Working Group was pleased and encouraged by the progress made by numerous government agencies in considering the plight of this dolphin population, and looks forward to further dialogue and information exchange among all parties. The ETSSTAWG remains freely available for expert consultation on any scientific question concerning these dolphins and their habitat.
For further information contact:
- Dr Peter S. Ross, Chairman, Eastern Taiwan Strait Sousa Technical Advisory Working Group (ETSSTAWG) (peter.s.ross@dfo-mpo.gc.ca)
- Dr Randall R. Reeves, Chairman, IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group (rrreeves@okapis.ca)
Also see:
2009 ETS Sousa Habitat Workshop
Taiwan's Humpback Dolphins face extinction
SMM Conference, Québec City: Workshop - Critical habitat delineation for critically endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in Taiwan
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin habitat in Taiwan:
Report of an international expert panel convened in Taipei, Nov 2-5 2009
Taipei (November 5, 2009): An international panel of scientists convened in Taipei to propose boundaries for priority habitat for a critically endangered population of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) in Taiwan. With fewer than 100 individuals remaining, this isolated population is found in the shallow, nearshore waters of central western Taiwan. These dolphins are threatened by pollution, noise, bycatch in fishing nets, and habitat changes caused by reduced release of water to estuaries and land reclamation.
The panel was convened at the request of the Eastern Taiwan Strait Sousa Technical Advisory Working Group (ETSSTAWG), a scientific body with 17 national and international experts on marine mammal biology and ecology. The panel spent three days drafting a plan to describe and propose priority habitat, considered as necessary to their survival and recovery.
The expert panel will be delivering its manuscript to a scientific journal for review and publication shortly, thereby enabling wide international review of the proposal. While this work focused on preparing a scientific rationale for priority habitat for this dolphin population, it is hoped that government, industry and non-governmental sectors can use the proposal as a basis for enacting protection measures.
Briefly, the panel proposes a priority habitat area with boundaries to the north of the Danshui River estuary down along the western coast to just south of Tseng-Wen River estuary. The boundaries will extend from the shoreline (relative to the lowest high tide of the year) out 3 km (relative to the lowest low tide of the year), or to the 30 m depth mark, whichever is further from the shore. This priority habitat area includes all waters within which there have been confirmed sightings of these dolphins, as well as areas to the north and south and further offshore that are deemed ‘suitable’ for dolphin use based on known habitat preferences.
The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins of Taiwan will go extinct in the absence of immediate protection measures which target fisheries, water use, construction, waste discharge, and noise-producing practices within this priority habitat area.
The Eastern Taiwan Strait Sousa Technical Advisory Working Group was pleased and encouraged by the progress made by numerous government agencies in considering the plight of this dolphin population, and looks forward to further dialogue and information exchange among all parties. The ETSSTAWG remains freely available for expert consultation on any scientific question concerning these dolphins and their habitat.
For further information contact:
- Dr Peter S. Ross, Chairman, Eastern Taiwan Strait Sousa Technical Advisory Working Group (ETSSTAWG) (peter.s.ross@dfo-mpo.gc.ca)
- Dr Randall R. Reeves, Chairman, IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group (rrreeves@okapis.ca)
Also see:
2009 ETS Sousa Habitat Workshop
Taiwan's Humpback Dolphins face extinction
SMM Conference, Québec City: Workshop - Critical habitat delineation for critically endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in Taiwan
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Taiwan's Humpback Dolphins face extinction
A Taiwan Humpback Dolphin mother and calf: photo courtesy of FormosaCetus Research and Conservation Group.Following yesterday's press conference at the Office of Legislator Tien Chiu-Chin on the preliminary findings of 2009 ETS Sousa Habitat Workshop, the Taipei Times has run an article titled Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin faces extinction. International scientists, amongst other things, voiced concerns over the Erlin Science Park project that was given the green light by the Environmental Protection Administration last Friday.
Save the Taiwan Humpback Dolphin Blog will publish the findings of the 2009 ETS Sousa Habitat Workshop as soon as they are made available to us.
Friday, November 6, 2009
More protests at the EPA against the CTSP Erlin Science Park
Protesters once again demonstrated outside the offices of the Environmental Protection Administration against the Erlin Science Park project yesterday. See today's Taipei Times for the story.
Also see:
Leave Taiwan's future a clean Chuoshui River
Stop the CTSP Erlin Science Park; Protect Farmers, Fishermen and the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins.
Update: Stop the CTSP Erlin Science Park - Protect Farmers, Fishers and the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins.
Taiwan Humpback Dolphin Extinction Guaranteed by Ma and Wu’s Cat in the Hat Economics?
Black Friday for Erlin - The EPA once again strikes a blow against the environment
All three effluent discharge proposals for Central Taiwan Science Park development will lead to pollution of humpback dolphin habitat
The saga of the CTSP Erlin Science Park and the Kuokuang Petrochemical Project
Taiwan's Humpback Dolphins face extinction
Also see:
Leave Taiwan's future a clean Chuoshui River
Stop the CTSP Erlin Science Park; Protect Farmers, Fishermen and the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins.
Update: Stop the CTSP Erlin Science Park - Protect Farmers, Fishers and the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins.
Taiwan Humpback Dolphin Extinction Guaranteed by Ma and Wu’s Cat in the Hat Economics?
Black Friday for Erlin - The EPA once again strikes a blow against the environment
All three effluent discharge proposals for Central Taiwan Science Park development will lead to pollution of humpback dolphin habitat
The saga of the CTSP Erlin Science Park and the Kuokuang Petrochemical Project
Taiwan's Humpback Dolphins face extinction
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Press Conference Invitation: International Seminar on the Conservation of the ETS Humpback Dolphin
台灣白海豚保育工作國際交流座談會
邀請函暨採訪通知
Invitation:
International Seminar on the Conservation of the Eastern Taiwan Strait Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin
Matsu’s Fish, (Sousa chinensis, ETS Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins, or the Taiwan White Dolphin ) is an important indicator of the ecological resources of Taiwan’s surrounding oceans. On account of the increasing and severe environmental degradation that has and is occurring in their habitat, this species is facing extinction. Based on the most recent scientific studies done this year only between 60 and 90 Taiwan White Dolphins remain.
The tragic fishnet entanglement and drowning death of one of the animals discovered on the beach in Miaoli County in late September 2009 is but one more reminder of the severe danger of losing this population of animals that have were designated CR, or critically endangered, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in August 2008.
Although the Taiwan government has begun to pay attention to the research that has been done on the Taiwan White Dolphin, however a number of large-scale development projects have been slated for the area in and around the animals’ habitat, projects that constitute a serious danger to the population’s survival. The conservation of the Taiwan’s White Dolphins has been accorded serious attention by the international community of cetacean conservationists and scientists. Ten of the world’s leading experts were in Taiwan from the second through the fifth of November 2009 to hold meetings and produce a manuscript on the Taiwan White Sousa.
This was the third such meeting of these scientists since their first meeting in 2004 following the scientific discovery of the animals along Taiwan’s west coast in 2002.
The primary purpose of this meeting was to discuss the range of ETS Sousa’s critical habitat of the and provide resolutions that can be used by all parties in Taiwan interested in conservation of the animals as an important reference for their work. In addition to being an opportunity for international cetacean conservation scientists to convene, discuss their research and produce a manuscript on the dolphins and their habitat, it also provided a platform and unique opportunity for Taiwan government agencies, academic organizations and civic conservation groups to exchange views on conservation.
The office of Legislator Tien Chiu-Chin, Taiwan Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association and the Taiwan Matsu’s Fish Conservation Union are jointly holding this press conference to invite the members of the international cetacean scientist community to share their preliminary findings and to issue a declaration concerning the conservation of the ETS Humpback Dolphin. Taiwan’s Forestry Bureau has kindly provided complimentary copies of its recently completed film on the Taiwan White Dolphins. All media and those with an interest in conservation are invited.
Sponsor: Office of Legislator Tien Chiu-Chin, Taiwan Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association, Taiwan Matsu’s Fish Conservation Union
Time: 6 November 2009, 10 am
Venue: Room 202 of the Hung Bldg. Legislative Yuan (please enter through the main entrance on Chung Shan S. Rd. No. 1 (Jhongshan S. Rd.)
Program: 0940 arrival; 1000 opening by Legislator Tien and introduction of guests; 1010 report on the manuscript proceedings; 1020 update on Miaoli stranding; 1030 Forestry Bureau’s conservation efforts; 1040 Declaration and signing; 1050-1200 dialog among local and international conservation interests
Contact information: GAN, Chen-yi (Ah Gan) 0982-225613
會議目的
媽祖魚（中華白海豚）是台灣海洋生態資源的重要指標，由於沿海環境日漸惡化，目前正面臨絕種危機；根據今年最新的研究數據，台灣的白海豚數量可能僅在60至90隻之間。尤其日前苗栗地區發生白海豚因漁網纏繞導致溺斃的悲劇，對於被國際保育聯盟IUCN列為瀕臨絕種等級的族群來說，每一隻白海豚的死亡都是台灣無可彌補的巨大損失。雖然台灣政府開始重視白海豚生態相關研究，但仍有許多重大開發案即將設置在白海豚棲地內，對其生存造成嚴重威脅。台灣白海豚的保育議題受到國際鯨豚保育學者高度重視，特於2009年11月2日至5日第三度齊聚台灣，舉行白海豚國際保育工作會議。
此次會議的重點在於從嚴謹的科學角度，討論白海豚重要棲息環境的範圍，會議結論可作為台灣各界進行白海豚保育工作的重要依據。此外，這次座談會也把握多國鯨豚保育學者同聚台灣的難得機會，提供台灣政府單位、學術團隊及民間一個與國際學者直接交流保育意見的場合。
因此，田秋堇國會辦公室、台灣蠻野心足生態協會及台灣媽祖魚保育聯盟共同舉辦座談會，邀請與會單位簽署白海豚保育宣言，並請林務局提供最清晰的白海豚生態影像紀錄，敬邀各界及媒體先進參與。
主辦單位
台灣媽祖魚保育聯盟、台灣蠻野心足生態協會、田秋堇國會辦公室
會議時間
2009年11月6日（五）上午10:00
會議地點
立法院紅樓202會議室（請由中山南路大門進入）
會議議程
09:40-10:00 簽到
10:00-10:10 田秋堇委員致詞，介紹與會單位及代表
10:10-10:30 「白海豚國際保育工作會議」結論發表
10:30-10:40 林務局發表白海豚保育工作成果
10:40-10:50 簽署白海豚保育宣言
10:50-12:00 與會單位與國際學者保育意見交流
聯絡人：甘宸宜 0982-225613
Also see:
2009 ETS Sousa Habitat Workshop
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin habitat in Taiwan: Report of an international expert panel convened in Taipei, Nov 2-5 2009
Taiwan's Humpback Dolphins face extinction
SMM Conference, Québec City: Workshop - Critical habitat delineation for critically endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in Taiwan
邀請函暨採訪通知
Invitation:
International Seminar on the Conservation of the Eastern Taiwan Strait Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin
Matsu’s Fish, (Sousa chinensis, ETS Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins, or the Taiwan White Dolphin ) is an important indicator of the ecological resources of Taiwan’s surrounding oceans. On account of the increasing and severe environmental degradation that has and is occurring in their habitat, this species is facing extinction. Based on the most recent scientific studies done this year only between 60 and 90 Taiwan White Dolphins remain.
The tragic fishnet entanglement and drowning death of one of the animals discovered on the beach in Miaoli County in late September 2009 is but one more reminder of the severe danger of losing this population of animals that have were designated CR, or critically endangered, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in August 2008.
Although the Taiwan government has begun to pay attention to the research that has been done on the Taiwan White Dolphin, however a number of large-scale development projects have been slated for the area in and around the animals’ habitat, projects that constitute a serious danger to the population’s survival. The conservation of the Taiwan’s White Dolphins has been accorded serious attention by the international community of cetacean conservationists and scientists. Ten of the world’s leading experts were in Taiwan from the second through the fifth of November 2009 to hold meetings and produce a manuscript on the Taiwan White Sousa.
This was the third such meeting of these scientists since their first meeting in 2004 following the scientific discovery of the animals along Taiwan’s west coast in 2002.
The primary purpose of this meeting was to discuss the range of ETS Sousa’s critical habitat of the and provide resolutions that can be used by all parties in Taiwan interested in conservation of the animals as an important reference for their work. In addition to being an opportunity for international cetacean conservation scientists to convene, discuss their research and produce a manuscript on the dolphins and their habitat, it also provided a platform and unique opportunity for Taiwan government agencies, academic organizations and civic conservation groups to exchange views on conservation.
The office of Legislator Tien Chiu-Chin, Taiwan Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association and the Taiwan Matsu’s Fish Conservation Union are jointly holding this press conference to invite the members of the international cetacean scientist community to share their preliminary findings and to issue a declaration concerning the conservation of the ETS Humpback Dolphin. Taiwan’s Forestry Bureau has kindly provided complimentary copies of its recently completed film on the Taiwan White Dolphins. All media and those with an interest in conservation are invited.
Sponsor: Office of Legislator Tien Chiu-Chin, Taiwan Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association, Taiwan Matsu’s Fish Conservation Union
Time: 6 November 2009, 10 am
Venue: Room 202 of the Hung Bldg. Legislative Yuan (please enter through the main entrance on Chung Shan S. Rd. No. 1 (Jhongshan S. Rd.)
Program: 0940 arrival; 1000 opening by Legislator Tien and introduction of guests; 1010 report on the manuscript proceedings; 1020 update on Miaoli stranding; 1030 Forestry Bureau’s conservation efforts; 1040 Declaration and signing; 1050-1200 dialog among local and international conservation interests
Contact information: GAN, Chen-yi (Ah Gan) 0982-225613
會議目的
媽祖魚（中華白海豚）是台灣海洋生態資源的重要指標，由於沿海環境日漸惡化，目前正面臨絕種危機；根據今年最新的研究數據，台灣的白海豚數量可能僅在60至90隻之間。尤其日前苗栗地區發生白海豚因漁網纏繞導致溺斃的悲劇，對於被國際保育聯盟IUCN列為瀕臨絕種等級的族群來說，每一隻白海豚的死亡都是台灣無可彌補的巨大損失。雖然台灣政府開始重視白海豚生態相關研究，但仍有許多重大開發案即將設置在白海豚棲地內，對其生存造成嚴重威脅。台灣白海豚的保育議題受到國際鯨豚保育學者高度重視，特於2009年11月2日至5日第三度齊聚台灣，舉行白海豚國際保育工作會議。
此次會議的重點在於從嚴謹的科學角度，討論白海豚重要棲息環境的範圍，會議結論可作為台灣各界進行白海豚保育工作的重要依據。此外，這次座談會也把握多國鯨豚保育學者同聚台灣的難得機會，提供台灣政府單位、學術團隊及民間一個與國際學者直接交流保育意見的場合。
因此，田秋堇國會辦公室、台灣蠻野心足生態協會及台灣媽祖魚保育聯盟共同舉辦座談會，邀請與會單位簽署白海豚保育宣言，並請林務局提供最清晰的白海豚生態影像紀錄，敬邀各界及媒體先進參與。
主辦單位
台灣媽祖魚保育聯盟、台灣蠻野心足生態協會、田秋堇國會辦公室
會議時間
2009年11月6日（五）上午10:00
會議地點
立法院紅樓202會議室（請由中山南路大門進入）
會議議程
09:40-10:00 簽到
10:00-10:10 田秋堇委員致詞，介紹與會單位及代表
10:10-10:30 「白海豚國際保育工作會議」結論發表
10:30-10:40 林務局發表白海豚保育工作成果
10:40-10:50 簽署白海豚保育宣言
10:50-12:00 與會單位與國際學者保育意見交流
聯絡人：甘宸宜 0982-225613
Also see:
2009 ETS Sousa Habitat Workshop
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin habitat in Taiwan: Report of an international expert panel convened in Taipei, Nov 2-5 2009
Taiwan's Humpback Dolphins face extinction
SMM Conference, Québec City: Workshop - Critical habitat delineation for critically endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in Taiwan
2009 ETS Sousa Habitat Workshop
Dr. Peter Ross of Simon Fraser University (Canada) and chair of the Eastern Taiwan Strait Sousa Technical Advisory Working Group (ETSSTAWG) opening the 2009 ETS Sousa Habitat Workshop in Taipei, Taiwan on Monday, 2nd November. Monday, 2nd November saw the start of the 2009 International Eastern Taiwan Straight Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin Habitat Workshop in Taipei, Taiwan. This workshop follows on two previous international workshops held in 2004 and 2007 and a workshop on critical habitat delineation held at the Society for Marine Mammalogy's 18th Biennial Conference held in Québec City, Canada last month.
A workshop was held on Monday morning after which manuscript meetings and writing sessions followed for the rest of the week. Participants aim to produce a manuscript on important habitat requirements for the critically endangered Taiwan Humpback Dolphins. A press conference will be held on Friday.
A summary of Monday morning's workshop follows:
2009 International Eastern Taiwan Straight Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin Habitat Workshop
Welcome by Robin Winkler of Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association.
Participants introduce themselves.
Opening and introduction to the ETS Sousa by Dr. Peter Ross, chair of the Eastern Taiwan Strait Sousa Technical Advisory Working Group (ETSSTAWG).
Habitat characteristics of Sousa chinensis in Taiwan by Chou Lien-siang, National Taiwan University.
Investigations on the ETS Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin by John Y. Wang, FormosaCetus Research and Conservation Group.
Land use and sustainable development in Taiwan coastal areas, Chien Lien-kwei, National Taiwan Ocean University.
Update on habitat threats to the Sousa, Kan Chen-yi & John Tsai, Matsu's Fish Conservation Union.
Sousa Conservation Statutes, Liu Chiung-lien, Forestry Bureau.
Fishing regulations in the range of the Sousa, M.C. Wang, Fisheries Bureau.
Wrap up and close by Peter Ross.
The 2009 International Eastern Taiwan Straight Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin Habitat Workshop was sponsored by the Eastern Taiwan Strait Sousa Technical Advisory Working Group (ETSSTAWG) and Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association. In addition, the workshop was co-sponsored and supported by Winkler Partners; Matsu's Fish Conservation Union; FormosaCetus Research and Conservation Group; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong; Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society; and Humane Society International.
Also see:
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin habitat in Taiwan: Report of an international expert panel convened in Taipei, Nov 2-5 2009
Taiwan's Humpback Dolphins face extinction
SMM Conference, Québec City: Workshop - Critical habitat delineation for critically endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in Taiwan
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