Mailiao Reclamation Site - The Green Area ?

Reclamation work in known valuable humpback dolphin habitat at the Mailiao FPG plant in Yunlin County is to create a "Green area" where trees will be planted as part of a green-washing plan. What follows is a brief from a Matsu's Fish Conservation Union humpback dolphin observer at the observation site in Mailiao.

Mailiao, Taiwan 2007-9-28

On Friday morning we spent two hours (8:30-10:40) at Mailiao area P looking for Sousa dolphins. Sea conditions were pretty good but a bank of foggy haze lay just offshore starting in the area around the offshore structure that the dolphins are often seen near in Observation Area P. This made viewing beyond the offshore structure impossible.

Offshore structure. This photo wasn't taken on this trip as the structure was barely visible on Friday

The reclamation area has now been fenced off. One is still able to observe the area from the wall. Conditions aren't good sitting up there. Lots of dust from the work site and the usual factory fumes and clouds of toxic smoke.







Reclamation work


In the inshore area between the shore and the offshore structure bordered on the one side by the reclamation project and the other by the Mailiao Harbour breakwater we observed four trammel nets very close to shore.

Flag marker for net

In addition to the trammel nets there are more buoys than on previous visits and the usual sticks, poles and other hazards sticking out of the water.

The usual hazards

With the four trammel nets blocking off the area it was pretty much a certainty that we weren't going to see Sousa dolphin in that area. We held out some hope that either the haze would lift and we would be able to see the waters around the offshore structure or that the dolphins would pass through the small area of obstacle free water between the end of the trammel nets and the offshore structure. We had no such luck. Sousa dolphins in the area pretty much wouldn't have had anywhere to go. With this type of thing going on all along the coast it's really not surprising that these dolphins are in trouble. We could make out the shapes of a lot of small craft traffic through the haze just beyond the offshore structure.

We then moved up the coast looking for other suitable areas for viewing and ended up in the Dacheng Wetland IBA. With the large areas of mudflats we found no place really suitable for onshore viewing other than the area around the coastguard observation tower next to the reclamation site just before the entrance to Mailiao Harbour.

Updates:
Pictures from Mailiao (2008-09-09)
Photos from Mailiao: more dolphin habitat gone ! (2009-03-06)
FPG land reclamation in pink dolphin habitat update (2010-08-26)

Formosa Steel Plant update

Reclamation work at the Formosa Plant, Mailiao

Taipei:-26 September 2007

The seventh term of the Environmental Protection Administration's (EPA) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Commission met today to discuss, in a “pre-meeting meeting”, the proposed Formosa Steel Plant, which the developer, Formosa Plastics, would like to see built next to its existing petrochemical industrial complex that lies along side the Jhuoshui River estuary between Yunlin County and Changhua County in central Taiwan.

An official from Taiwan’s EPA began by summarizing its version of the procedural history of the case. The first committee meeting on the case took place in March 2006. One year later, during the fourth meeting of the review committee, on 19 March 2007, the committee recommended that the development go into a second phase assessment. However, that recommendation never made it to the plenary commission. According to the EPA, the developer requested an opportunity to “submit additional materials”. Breaking with its normal procedure (although not unprecedented) of referring the review committee’s decision to the plenary commission, the EPA staff granted the request with a deadline of 31 May 2007.

As the deadline loomed, the EPA continued, the developer stayed the proceedings by filing an objection to the presence of five commissioners on the review committee. Claiming that the commissioners are “quasi-public officials” and that these five in particular had expressed prejudice against the development. Thus, according to the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the five should be disqualified from further participation in the proceedings. The EPA accepted the complaints agreeing with the position that the commissioners are public officials for purposes of the APA, but referred the other issues to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). This effectively ensured that the five commissioners in question would have no opportunity to participate in the plenary commission’s discussion of the case as under the APA such questions must be cleared up before the proceedings can continue.

The EPA has not announced the Ministry of Justice’s decision in the matter, and environmental groups have been unable to discern whether the MOJ ever made a determination as to the disqualification of commissioners or whether the EPA was correct in accepting the complaints in the first place. The EPA also failed to mention that the Taiwan Academy of Ecology filed a similar complaint to disqualify the seven government representatives that sit on the commission, or how that complaint was dismissed by the EPA on the grounds that the Academy did not have standing.

After hearing the reports from the developer and its government sponsor, the Industrial Development Bureau, one of the commissioners requested that the representative of an environmental group be allowed to speak. The EPA chief of the EIA section, Tsai Ling-yi, then prompted the representative of a local township to speak out in favor of the project.

After a closed door discussion by the commissioners and other government agency representatives it was announced that the committee would “respect” the decision of the previous committee and send the case to the plenary commission with the recommendation that it go into second phase evaluation.

The EPA’s lack of objectivity in handling the case has been cited numerous times and following the meeting this morning it was learned that the EPA plans to include this case in the plenary meeting which is scheduled to be held on the afternoon of 1 October 2007. This sudden burst of “efficiency” comes despite numerous requests from commissioners (sixth and seventh terms) that commissioners be given materials regarding all cases that are to be discussed and decided upon seven days in advance of the meeting. There has also been no public announcement of the meeting or its agenda as of close of business 26 September 2007.

As to some of the substantive issues discussed:

Sousa chinensis Dolphins: The developer cited the 2004-2006 study and report commissioned by the Council of Agriculture but made written and oral statements to the effect that there are no dolphins of the coast where the plant will be built but also noted that plans are underway to cooperate with the Taiwan Cetacean Society (TCS) to conduct further research. Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association is following up with a letter to the Council of Agriculture (COA) and a letter to the TCS to point out the abusive way the former’s research is being used and to request that the latter make a statement clarifying its research.

[It should be noted that the recently concluded Second International Taiwan Humpback Dolphin Workshop (funded partially by the Forestry Bureau and other Taiwanese government agencies) very clearly defined the distribution of the humpback dolphin in western Taiwan and stated that the distribution area clearly included the waters around the present FPG site and the newly reclaimed land. This was accepted by all the foreign dolphin experts present (including the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group's chair; and a NOAA senior scientist). This distribution that includes the FPG area is being published in an international, reputable, peer-reviewed scientific journal so ignoring this may well result in the lack of credibility for a number of government agencies when respected scientists start asking questions about the distribution.]

Cumulative impact of the project:

The developer continued its former pattern of focusing on the technology that would be used in this plant and how it is much cleaner and environmentally friendlier than that currently being used in Taiwan. No cumulative impact was acknowledged even though the developer’s sister project, the 6th Naphtha Cracker has acknowledged that pollution levels are far over acceptable levels.

Impact on existing economy:

The developer and the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) also continue to ignore the adverse impact on aquaculture, not only in the immediate area of the planned project, but also the impact on other areas that rely on the raw materials produced in the area for downstream aquaculture products.

Public support for the case:

The developer cited polls that indicate over 50% of the respondents “conditionally support” the project failing to note that the condition is for this case to be bundled with the proposed 8th Naphtha Cracker.

Observers at this morning’s meeting noted that the participating commissioners, with one exception (and a second exception who participated by written opinion), seemed inclined to over rule the committee decision and let the case pass without going into a second phase evaluation.

[The Taiwan Green Party is mobilizing environmental and social groups from around Taiwan to attend the 156th plenary commission meeting. They and others in the coalition will hold a press conference on recent initiatives to get complete and accurate information about EIAs out in the open and in advance of the meetings. While the EPA has told commissioners the meeting will take place on 1 October, commissioners have yet to receive the agenda:-27 September 2007]

Three pantropical spotted dolphins die in mass stranding

Live fire exercise, Matsu Islands, July 2006.

Taiwan has an abnormally high rate of cetacean strandings. Military activities, such as the use of sonar and live fire exercises, have often been suspected to be the reason behind many of these strandings. Such military activities clearly pose a threat to the Taiwan humpback dolphins. If military activities played any part in yesterday's strandings of about 20 dolphins on a beach in Bali, Taipei County, remains to be seen. There have been military exercises in the Taiwan Strait recently involving Taiwan's new Kidd-Class destroyers and these destroyers have the infamous 53C sonar. See the picture, Laid to rest, in today's Taipei Times. (What is disturbing is that the dead dolphins have been buried rather than handed over to competent scientists to try and determine the cause of death. Also, a Rough-toothed dolphin stranded in Taitung yesterday.)


Also see: Military Practice in Taiwan may be the cause of abnormal cetacean stranding for more on unusual cetacean strandings.

Taiwan shows off new warship in Strait maneuvers

* Chinese news media are reporting that nine dolphins died. TV coverage shows seven dead dolphins.

Summary of Local Media Coverage of the Humpback Dolphin Workshop

What Follows is a brief summary of local Taiwan media coverage of the Second International Workshop on the Taiwan Humpback Dolphin press conference held in Changhua City, Taiwan, on Friday, September 7th.

Government

Taiwan’s Central News Agency put out the following story:

(Translated from Chinese)

Conference Warns of Immanent Threat to Rare Taiwanese Dolphin

“The Second International Workshop on the Conservation and Research Needs of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins, Sousa chinensis, in the waters of western Taiwan was held on in Taiwan from 4-7 September 2007. Dolphin experts attending the workshop warn that the Taiwan humpback dolphin faces extinction unless the Taiwanese government acts quickly to protect the species’ habitat. The workshop was hosted by Taiwan’s National Museum of Marine Biology. Attendees included dolphin experts from Canada, Brazil and the United States.

Humpback dolphins were only confirmed by scientists to be residing in the coastal waters off of western Taiwan in 2002. Distinct markings on the Taiwan humpback dolphins distinguish it as a [sub] species distinct from similar dolphins living in estuaries off the coast of China. Researchers estimate that less than one hundred Taiwan humpback dolphins remain and fear that their continued existence is at serious risk. The habitat of the humpback dolphin along Taiwan’s central-west coast is threatened by reduced fresh water flows, fishing nets, direct habitat destruction, and overall deterioration of its environment brought about by noise, water and other pollution. Approximately one-third of the humpback dolphin population has suffered injuries as a result of habitat deterioration.

Experts attending the workshop recommended that development projects that could impact on the habitat of humpback dolphin be made public, that gillnet and other harmful fishing practices be outlawed in the habitat area and that tourist activities there be limited in order to protect the dwindling numbers of this dolphin species.”

Television coverage

Television coverage of the workshop was good with the following TV channels all running stories on the event:

Taiwan Public Television
Formosa TV
TVBS News
Ettoday News
ERA News
Chinese TV
Taiwan TV

Radio Coverage

Taiwan’s largest radio service, Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC), gave coverage of the workshop in some of its news programs.

Newspapers

Newspaper coverage of the workshop was rather disappointing with only the Liberty Times running the story. Liberty Times is one of the larger mainstream Taiwan dailies.

Although newspaper reports covering the event were disappointing the TV coverage was good and should have raised awareness of the plight of the Taiwan humpback dolphins considerably.

Also see:
Taiwan Humpback Dolphin Workshop - Press Release

Canadian scientists race to save Taiwan's rare pink dolphins

Taiwan Pink Dolphin-Information Sheet

Taiwan pink dolphins, mother and calf:
Photo courtesy of FormosaCetus Research and Conservation Group.


Introduction

In June 2002 an exploratory survey team made up of John Y. Wang and Shih-Chu Yang of FormosaCetus Research and Conservation Group, and Samuel K. Hung of Hong Kong Cetacean Research Project conducted the first exploratory cetacean surveys of the coastal waters of central western Taiwan (Miaoli, Taichung, and Changhua counties) between 23 and 26 June 2002.

During these surveys a total of ten groups of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis were spotted. It has since been established that a unique resident population of less than a hundred humpback dolphins resides in the shallow coastal waters of western Taiwan between Miaoli and Tainan Counties. This unique population of Humpback dolphins are now known as the Taiwan pink dolphins.

Prior to the 2002 surveys there had only been sporadic records of humpback dolphin in the waters around Taiwan and these records were thought to be stray animals. The only other population of humpback dolphins in Taiwanese controlled territory is around Kinmen Island a few kilometers off the coast of China's Fujian Province near the Chinese port city of Xiamen. The Humpback dolphins around Kinmen form part of the Xiamen population and differ from the unique Taiwan pink dolphins of Taiwan's central-west coast.

Within the genus Sousa, two species are generally recognised. These are Sousa teuszii or Atlantic humpbacked dolphin and Sousa chinensis or Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin. Two subspecies are generally recognised for the Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin. Sousa chinensis plumbea is found from Southern Africa through to the seas around Sri Lanka in South Asia. Sousa chinensis chinensis is found through Southeast Asia through to East Asia and southwards to Northern Australia.

Humpbacked dolphins in East Asia are often called Chinese white dolphins or pink dolphins. In Taiwan the unique local humpback dolphin is commonly known as Matsu’s Fish. The Taiwan Strait is influenced by the north-easterly wind, and for three quarters of the year, the turbulent sea off the west coast is covered in whitecaps, making observation difficult. After about the middle of the third month of the lunar calendar, the sea becomes calmer, and the dolphins become easier to distinguish from the waves. The birthday of the sea goddess Matsu falls around this time, on the 23rd of the third month of the lunar calendar. Therefore, it is said that these dolphins appear in the area to wish Matsu a happy birthday. [It should be noted that these dolphins are resident. It is just very difficult to spot white dolphins in wintry white water.]

Description

Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins appear mostly in tropical to warm-temperate areas of the Indian and western Pacific oceans, and are often seen along the south-east coast of China in East Asia.

Humpback dolphins have a long and slender beak with a robust body with a thick caudal peduncle. The hump and dorsal fin size varies. Humpbacked dolphins in Taiwan waters have very small humps and dorsal fins. Taiwan humpbacked dolphins have not been measured so measurements are not available. Measurements of South African humpback dolphins are given as they would be similar.

Length

Male: 2.79 m
Female: 2.49 m

Weight

Male: 260 kg
Female: 170 kg

(Reeves R.R. et al, 2002)

When born, the dolphin is grey, but in its youth the colour fades and it becomes patterned with blue-grey spots, and upon reaching adulthood, its whole body becomes white or pink. According to the latest research, the Taiwanese population differs from those in the coastal waters of Hong Kong and China in the development and patterns of spotting. The Taiwanese population has unique colouration patterns and may well be a unique subspecies endemic to Taiwanese waters. Scientists are currently continuing the research on their ecology, such as their body colour, genetics, population size and distribution.

Distribution

The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin Sousa chinensis is primarily a nearshore, shallow water inhabitant that tends to be associated with the mouths of large rivers. It is found throughout most of the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific region from South Africa to Australia and north to the East China Sea (Jefferson, 2000; Jefferson & Karczmarski, 2001).

In western Taiwan waters (Eastern Taiwan Strait)the species is found in the shallow coastal waters between Miaoli and Tainan Counties. The dolphins’ most important habitat is the coastal waters between Miaoli and Chiayi counties and within five kilometers from shore, which happens to overlap with the locations of major past and current development projects.



Habitat

The dolphins favor the shallow inshore waters of Western Taiwan. They frequent estuarine areas. The dolphins are normally found in waters between 1.5 to 15m in depth and generally well within 3km of the shore.

Protected Status

The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin is classified under Taiwan’s Wildlife Conservation Act as receiving the highest level of legal protection. In reality, despite its protected status, little, if any, has been done to meaningfully protect this unique dolphin population.

Internationally, the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin is listed as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. However, the Cetacean Specialist Group of the IUCN is in discussions to list this unique Taiwanese dolphin population as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. It is generally recognized in numerous international cetacean conservation action plans that, in the rapidly developing Asian region, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin populations are facing major challenges to their continued survival. Conservation action cannot be delayed, and the task of removing human threats must be given the highest priority.

Update: August 2008

The Eastern Taiwan Strait humpback dolphin is now classified as Critically Endangered. See: Critically Endangered - It's Official !

Threats

Five major threats have been identified:

- by-catch in fishing gear;
- reclamation of estuarine and coastal regions for industrial purposes;
- diversion and extraction of freshwater from major river systems of western Taiwan;
- release of industrial, agricultural and municipal effluent into rivers and coastal waters;
- noise and disturbance associated with construction, shipping and military activities.


Also see:

Report of the 2nd [2007] International Workshop on Conservation & Research Needs of the Eastern Taiwan Straight Population of Indo-Pacific humpback Dolphins

Taiwan Pink Dolphin Workshop - Press Release

Taiwan Pink Dolphin Pamphlet

Taiwan’s Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in peril, says newly-formed international scientific working group

For more, see the Taiwan pink dolphin video.

Sonar And Seismic Noise

An interesting article from a 2005 edition of the Cetacean Society International's Whales Alive! newsletter on Sonar and Seismic Noise by William Rossiter; which amongst other things looks at some of the sonar threats to the Taiwan humpback dolphins.

Also see:
The impact of wind farm construction on the Humpback Dolphins

CEPD Approves Wind Farm Plans

More offshore wind farms

International Workshop Focuses on Plight of Taiwan's Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin

Workshop Press Conference Sept 7th.

The following is a release from the Humane Society of the United States:

International Workshop Focuses on Plight of Taiwan's Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin

Taipei (September 12, 2007): Taiwan's unique Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin population faces imminent extinction if measures are not taken to protect them and their habitat from a number of serious threats, a group of international experts warned last week in Changhua City. The recent demise of the Baiji river dolphin in China's Yangtze River gives a particular sense of urgency to concerns about the fate of Taiwan's humpback dolphins. The humpback dolphin is a fish-eating mammal that lives in shallow estuaries and nearshore waters of western Taiwan. Surveys suggest that only 100 individuals remain. This animal is especially vulnerable because it relies on coastal habitat shared by Taiwan's people and industry.

The humpback dolphins were the focus of an international workshop held in Changhua City on 4-7 September 2007. Participants included local dolphin researchers, conservationists and marine engineers, as well as experts from Canada, the United States, Japan, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Officials from government agencies, representatives of academic institutions and members of local conservation groups provided a grim picture of the state of the coastal marine environment along the west coast of Taiwan:

* More than 30% of the remaining dolphins bear serious wounds or scars caused by encounters with fishing gear, vessels or other hazards in coastal waters.
* Dolphin habitat is being destroyed by land reclamation in estuaries, sand mining, and reduced river flow into coastal estuaries.
* Pollution discharges from industrial, municipal and agricultural sources threaten the health of dolphins and their food.

The expert group called on the Taiwanese government to proceed with a declaration of important habitat for the humpback dolphins; carry out public evaluations of existing and planned projects that may impact the humpback dolphins and their habitat; mitigate projects that may impact the dolphins and their habitat using best available methods; prohibit the use of gill nets and trammel nets in nearshore waters; limit tourism focused on humpback dolphins to land-based viewing; and disclose data related to pollutant concentrations and environmental status.

Only through the concerted efforts of individuals, organizations, municipalities, central government agencies and industry will this distinct animal survive.

Also see:

Report of the 2nd International Workshop on Conservation & Research Needs of the Eastern Taiwan Straight Population of Indo-Pacific humpback Dolphins

Taiwan Humpback Dolphin Workshop (2007) - Press Release

The Second International Workshop on the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins

Taiwan Pink Dolphin Workshop - Press Release

Taiwan Pink Dolphin (TW-28) Blotchy: courtesy of FormosaCetus Research & Conservation Group.

Press release from the Second International Workshop on the Conservation and Research Needs of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins, Sousa chinensis, in the waters of western Taiwan:

_______________________________________________________

Workshop press conference (9/07)

Taiwan’s Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins [aka Taiwan pink dolphins] face imminent extinction if measures are not taken to protect them and their habitat from a number of threats, a group of international experts warned this week in Changhua City. The recent demise of the Baiji in China’s Yangtze River gives a particular sense of urgency to concerns about the fate of Taiwan’s humpback dolphins. The humpback dolphin is a fish-eating mammal that lives in shallow estuaries and nearshore waters of western Taiwan. This animal is especially vulnerable because it relies on habitat at the interface of land and sea. The expert group identified five major threats: reduced river flow into estuaries, habitat loss, entanglement in fishing gear, industrial and municipal pollutant discharges, and underwater noise.

Workshop delegates at press conference (9/07)


The humpback dolphins were the focus of an international workshop held in Changhua City on 4-7 September 2007 and sponsored by: Ministry of Education; Forestry Bureau; National Science Council; Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong; Winkler Partners; Humane Society International; Natural Resources Defense Council. This workshop was a follow-up to an earlier meeting on the same topic in Wuchi in February 2004.

Participants in the Changhua City event included local dolphin researchers, conservation activists and marine engineers, as well as cetacean experts from Canada, the United States, Japan, Brazil, United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Officials from government agencies (Urban and Rural Planning Office, Industrial Development Bureau, Fisheries Agency, Forestry Bureau, Environment Protection Administration), representatives of academic institutions (National Sun Yat-Sen University, Cheng-Shiu University), National Pingtung University of Science and Technology) and members of local NGOs (FormosaCetus Research and Conservation Group, Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association, Taiwan Academy of Ecology) addressed the workshop and provided a grim picture of the state of the coastal marine environment along the west coast of Taiwan.

The following were among the important new scientific findings presented at the workshop:

• Systematic boat surveys between 2002 and 2004 suggest that the total number of Eastern Taiwan Strait (ETS) humpback dolphins is only about 100 individuals.

• Subtle but consistent differences in colouration pattern indicate that the ETS humpback dolphins are isolated and independent from populations of the same species along the mainland Chinese coast (e.g. Xiamen and the Pearl River Estuary).

• Throughout most of the year (winter distribution has not been studied) the dolphins occur in or near estuaries along the west coast of Taiwan from Tongshiao (Miaoli County) and Waishanding Zhou (Yunlin and Chiayi counties).

• They live very close to shore (mostly within 3 km), mainly in waters less than 25 metres deep. Researchers have established observation posts at several sites where the animals can be observed and studied from shore.

• More than 30% of the dolphins bear serious wounds or scars indicative of harmful encounters with fishing gear, vessels or other hazards in their harsh near-shore environment.

(TW-15)Survivor (note the scars): courtesy of FormosaCetus Research & Conservation Group.

Information provided by local officials and scholars confirmed that the threats identified in 2004 have gotten worse, not better. For example, construction of Jiji Weir and Hushan Dam, already controversial, will further reduce freshwater flow and sediment deposition in the Jhoushuei River estuary, making this important habitat less suitable for dolphins. The fishing industry on Taiwan’s west coast is plagued by problems of its own – over-exploitation of stocks, pollution, destruction of spawning and nursery habitat – and these also have implications for dolphins. No progress has been made since 2004 in assessing, much less in addressing, the threat of incidental mortality in fishing gear (bycatch). The same must be said, unfortunately, about the problem of toxic chemicals and other harmful substances being injected into coastal food webs off western Taiwan. Major industrial development initiatives are going ahead with little, and usually no, recognition of their potential impacts on dolphins and other marine and estuarine organisms.

Although workshop participants acknowledged the severity and urgency of the threats facing ETS humpback dolphins, they concluded that there was still hope of preventing this unique population from going the way of the Baiji. As a first step, they formed a steering committee to establish an international working group of scientific experts whose mandate will be to provide independent advice on ETS humpback dolphin research and conservation. In addition, the workshop recommended that interested individuals and groups move ahead as quickly as possible to establish a multi-stakeholder body to ensure that the advice of the expert working group is both heard and heeded by relevant decision-makers, agencies and industries within Taiwan and internationally.

With consideration of the above, other specific recommendations to the central and local governments from the workshop included the following:

• Proceed with formal declaration of important habitat for ETS humpback dolphins;

• Carry out public and transparent evaluations of all existing and planned projects and future proposals that may impact the ETS humpback dolphins and their habitat (including upstream watershed areas), which may include:
 Land reclamation and coastal construction
 Sand and other substrate removal
 Artificial reef projects
 Water resource management projects
 Industry and other pollutant point-sources
 Noise-generating activities
 All energy-generation projects

• Mitigate all existing and planned projects and future proposals that may impact the ETS humpback dolphins and their habitat (including upstream watershed areas) using best available methods;

• Prohibit use of gill nets and trammel nets in waters inhabited by ETS humpback dolphins;

• Limit development of tourism focused on humpback dolphin-watching to land-based platforms and integrated with nature-oriented education efforts.

• If any marine protected area (MPA) were to be developed for humpback dolphins in Taiwan, it would require substantial resources and an open planning and consultation process and would need to cover their entire effective range to provide meaningful protection (e.g., strict enforcement);

Taiwan Humpback Dolphin and the west coast: courtesy of FormosaCetus Research & Conservation Group.


All laws and regulations regarding disclosures of environmental data and information concerning development projects and other activities that have potentially adverse impacts on the humpback dolphins and their habitat should be interpreted in a manner that will facilitate the fullest possible disclosure and participation by stake-holders. Without such disclosure, attempts to understand and mitigate threats and ultimately ensure the survival of the ETS humpback dolphins will be severely compromised.

Also see:

Report of the 2nd International Workshop on Conservation & Research Needs of the Eastern Taiwan Straight Population of Indo-Pacific humpback Dolphins

International Workshop Focuses on Plight of Taiwan's Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin

The Second International Workshop (2007) on the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins

The First Symposium and Workshop (2004) on Conservation and Research of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins, Sousa chinensis, of the Waters of Taiwan

Summary of Local Media Coverage of the Humpback Dolphin Workshop

New Taiwan Pink Dolphin Pamphlet

The Matsu's Fish Conservation Union released a new Taiwan pink dolphin conservation pamphlet for the Second International Workshop on the Conservation and Research Needs of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins, Sousa chinensis, in the waters of western Taiwan. Below is the text of the pamphlet.

Pamphlet Text:

Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin

Who will help the Matsu Fish?
Sousa chinensis

The plight of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin


Threats to the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin

Since Taiwan started to industrialise in the 1960s, the unrelenting development of the west coast has involved coastal land reclamation, air and water pollution and the cutting-off of water resources, reducing and degrading the dolphins' habitat and indirectly depleting their food sources. Meanwhile, they are also the victims of bycatch through excessive fishing using gill nets (drift nets, trammel nets and bottom-set gill nets) and bottom trawling, of injuries from boat collisions, and of damage to their sonar systems caused by the noise of marine and coastal zone engineering. All these threats have left these dolphins in a state of crisis – there are now only about one hundred or fewer left.

The dolphins’ most important habitat is the coastal waters between Miaoli and Chiayi counties and within five kilometers from shore, which happen to overlap with the locations of major past and current development projects. These include the petrochemical industry (Mailiao Offshore Industrial Park and the Kuokuang Petrochemical Park), heavy industry (the Formosa Plastics and Chunglong Steel Mills) and power generation (the Tongshiao, Taichung, Longjing, Jhanggong and the Longfong Power Plants). Some of these projects are reducing the dolphin’s habitat through land reclamation. And now, Taiwan Power Company is planning to construct offshore wind turbines in this area, slicing up the dolphin’s habitat further still. There are also the Central Taiwan Science Park effluent discharge pipes, Jiji Weir and the planned Dadu and Babao Weirs, and the Hushan Dam, which affect water quality and quantity.

Is the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin being protected?

The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin is classified under Taiwan’s Wildlife Conservation Act as receiving the highest level of legal protection. Sadly, however, the dolphins have never felt the effects of this law, leaving them neglected and under serious threat.

Internationally, not only is the Cetacean Specialist Group of the IUCN in discussions to list this Taiwanese dolphin population as CR (Critically Endangered) in the IUCN Red List, but also it is generally recognized in numerous international cetacean conservation action plans that, in the rapidly developing Asian region, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin populations are facing major challenges to their continued survival. Conservation action cannot be delayed, and the task of removing human threats must be given the highest priority.

Update: The Eastern Taiwan Strait humpback dolphin is now officially classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. See: Critically Endangered - It's Official !

About the Matsu Fish (Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin)

The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin is commonly known as Matsu’s Fish, and its scientific name is Sousa chinensis. It appears mostly in tropical to warm-temperate areas of the Indian and western Pacific oceans, and is often seen along the south-east coast of China. When it is born, the dolphin is grey, but in its youth the colour fades and it becomes patterned with blue-grey spots, and upon reaching adulthood, its whole body becomes white or pink. According to the latest research, the Taiwanese population differs from those in the coastal waters of Hong Kong and China in the development and patterns of spotting. The Taiwanese population may be a unique subspecies endemic to Taiwanese waters. Scientists are currently continuing the research on their ecology, such as their body colour, genetics, population size and distribution.

The statistical data dating from 2002, when the first scientific observations were made along the west coast of Taiwan, to 2007, show that about 50 individuals have been identified so far. Line transect surveys have provided a best estimate of 99 individuals but recent work employing mark-recapture analyses of photographically identified individuals suggests there may be many fewer dolphins in the population. Living in such close proximity to humans, the species is especially vulnerable to threats from human activities. Because of the uniqueness of this population, the Taiwanese population (also known as the Eastern Taiwan Strait population) is rare so the threats to these dolphins can have enormous consequences for this valuable resource.

The origins of the name ‘Matsu’s Fish’

The Taiwan Strait is influenced by the north-easterly wind, and for three quarters of the year, the turbulent sea is covered in whitecaps, making observation difficult. After about the middle of the third month of the lunar calendar, the sea becomes calmer, and the dolphins become easier to distinguish from the waves. The birthday of the sea goddess Matsu falls around this time, on the 23rd of the third month of the lunar calendar. Therefore, it is said that these dolphins appear in the area to wish Matsu a happy birthday.

Stories have been told of occasions when the dolphins have saved drowning people, or warned and protected bathing tourists from sharks. From an ecological perspective, the humpback dolphin is at the top of the food chain, so its survival also represents the stability of the local ecology, and the abundance of fish. Therefore, Han Taiwanese living on the coast have associated their most important goddess, Matsu, with this dolphin, which is both lovable and, further still, an indicator of the health of the coastal environment and coastal people of Taiwan.

Taiwan habitat distribution map
Sousa chinensis

Confirmed distribution (red)
Possible distribution (yellow)



What we would like to do

On 28 January 2007, seven Taiwanese NGOs set up the ‘Matsu's Fish Conservation Union’ in response to the crisis.

Now, we hope that with a greater understanding of the basic ecology and conservation crisis of the dolphins, proper conservation concepts for these dolphins can be brought to the public through education and interpretation activities. On-site visits to their habitat, allowing close-up observation of their activity (without disturbing the animals), will allow the public to witness the current state of the surrounding environment, and understand the urgency of conservation work. The proceeds will be used to help fund academic conferences and international exchange, in order to raise levels of conformity and exchange between countries. Because it has been long neglected by academia, and was only discovered by scientists in 2002, knowledge of their most basic ecology is still lacking, meaning that there is a great need for further research. Therefore, funds will also be used to support such fundamental scientific research.

Conservation of Taiwan’s humpback dolphins needs the long term involvement of a large number of people, who will need a stable and independent source of funds. This means it is necessary to seek public donations. We are also considering boosting our conservation fundraising efforts by using a small initial investment taken from our donation funds to develop related products, which will be fun to play with and have collector’s value. In addition, we plan to publish educational books about dolphins, to spread the word about marine ecological conservation.

Our hope

We hope to bring public, academic, official and international attention to Matsu’s Fish, raising concern for them and encouraging action from all sides. We hope that the government will set real conservation plans, as has been done for endangered species such as the Formosan landlocked salmon, the Black- faced Spoonbill and the Formosan black bear, and support effective implementation of these plans and long-term monitoring, in order to remove the threats to these humpback dolphins, and to let us cherish these marine companions of ours for generations to come.

Please support us

Account name: Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association
Bank: Mega International Commercial Bank, Cheng Chung Branch
Account number: 017-09-15465-1

Please write on your donation slip: ‘Matsu's Fish Conservation Campaign’

This campaign welcomes regular credit card contributions, no matter how large or small - please download the authorization form from our blog:

(Online Donations)

http://www.wretch.cc/blog/twsousa

Secretariat for the Matsu's Fish Conservation Union
Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association

Telephone: +886 (0)2 23825789 Fax: +886 (0)2 23825810

12F, 86 Chongcing South Road Section 1, Taipei City 10045, Taiwan.

The Second International Workshop on the Taiwan Humpback Dolphins

The Second International Workshop on the Conservation and Research Needs of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins, Sousa chinensis, in the waters of western Taiwan took place in Changhua City, west-central Taiwan last week. We'll be posting a number of articles etc on the workshop as they become available.

Well known Taiwan based blogger, Michael Turton (The View from Taiwan), attended the workshop last Wednesday. See Pacific Humpback Dolphin Workshop.

Also see:

Report of the 2nd International Workshop on Conservation & Research Needs of the Eastern Taiwan Straight Population of Indo-Pacific humpback Dolphins

Second Workshop (2007) Press Release

International Workshop Focuses on Plight of Taiwan's Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin

The First Symposium and Workshop (2004) on Conservation and Research of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins, Sousa chinensis, of the Waters of Taiwan

Meet three of the Taiwan Pink Dolphins

Super Mom

Super Mom and calf, photo by J.Y. Wang: courtesy of FormosaCetus Research & Conservation Group.

Super Mom (TW-9), a mature female, was first photographed in June 2002 during the original survey in the waters off Changhua County. The calf in the photo is still thought to be with her as there often seems to be a larger grey calf hanging around her even though she is with a neonate this year. Travelling with two youngsters from the Dadu River (Taichung County) to Taisi (Yunlin County) within a day and then back to Dadu River within another couple of days makes her a real Super Mom.
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Survivor

Survivor: courtesy of FormosaCetus Research & Conservation Group.

Survivor (TW-15), was first photographed in late June of 2002 during the original surveys when the Taiwan population was discovered in June 2002. Survivor is almost certainly a mature animal. It was photographed around the estuaries of the Dajia and Daan rivers. This animal had suffered horrific injuries at some point presumably due to being mangled in a fisheries related incident. Survivor's scars really testify to the desperate plight of the Taiwan humpback dolphins. Survivor wasn't seen again after the 2002 photograph and researchers feared the worst. Happily, Survivor was spotted again a few weeks ago in the same area during the 2007 surveys.

Survivor, photo by S.K. Hung: courtesy of FormosaCetus Research & Conservation Group.
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Blotchy

Blotchy: courtesy of FormosaCetus Research & Conservation Group.

Blotchy (TW-28) would be a juvenile to sub-adult individual. It was first identified in early April 2003 around the Dadu River estuary area as a more grey coloured animal. It has been seen again in 2004 and 2007.

Blotchy (Left, the animal on the right is most likely TW-26), photo courtesy of M. Wilkie, Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association.


Our thanks to FormosaCetus Research & Conservation Group for supplying us with the above information.

See:
Update: Blotchy (TW-28) 2009 photo.

Recent Taiwan Humpback Dolphin Photos