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