Caribbean Cetacean Society

Scientific Expedition Report Ti Whale An Nou program 2023

Summary

Ti Whale An Nou is a collaborative program launched in 2021, dedicated to the research, education, and conservation of whales and dolphins in the Caribbean region. The program
emphasizes local leadership and involves participants from various Caribbean islands in scientific expeditions to gather essential information for cetacean conservation. Six expeditions
were conducted from March to September 2023, covering the islands of the Lesser Antilles. This report describes the findings of the seventh expedition of 2023, the first standardized cetacean survey in the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao).

Key results & findings:
• In total 29 observations of 8 cetacean species were recorded: Atlantic spotted dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Kogia sp., Pantropical spotted dolphin, Pygmy killer whale, Short-finned
pilot whale, Sperm whale, and Spinner dolphin.

• Valuable data was collected on species diversity, distribution, relative abundance, human threats, calf presence, social clan distribution, and more.

• Significant observations were made, including the discovery of 13 new sperm whales in Bonaire and Curacao. Further research is needed to identify to which Sperm whale clans these
individuals belong.

• Several juveniles of various species were identified, suggesting the ABC islands function as a crucial nursery habitat.

• The observations of Bryde's whales contribute to understanding distribution and migration  patterns of this understudied species.

• Photo ID evidence highlighted human impacts on these species, emphasizing the need for conservation measures.

• The expedition contributed to mapping offshore distribution of seabirds. A total of 12 seabirds species were recorded: Royal Tern, Sooty Tern, Common Tern, Unidentified Tropicbird,
Brown Pelican, Brown Noddy, Laughing Gull, Magnificent Frigate bird, Masked Booby, Brown Booby, Red-Footed Booby, and Unidentified Shearwater.

• A total of 26 island residents participated, representing each of the three islands and brought together governments, biodiversity conservation NGOs, island development organizations,
marine park authorities, and fisheries cooperatives. Fishermen and local marine park rangers were trained, enhancing their knowledge of cetaceans and conservation efforts.

Future perspectives:
The findings of this expedition can inform the development of a management plan for the Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary in Bonaire, with potential implications for extending the sanctuary to include Aruba and Curacao. In addition, these findings, combined with the findings of the previous expedition of CCS, can help inform regional species assessments and push for the creation of a Caribbean regional IUCN red list.

Date
2023
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao

Marine mammals in the Caribbean: a threatened treasure in our waters

Nederlands and Papiamentu below.

 

Over the last two years, the Caribbean Cetacean Society (CCS) has been studying cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in the Lesser Antilles with the support of the World Wide Fund for Nature the Netherlands (WWF-NL), the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and other partners.

Photo credit WWF-NL

CCS unveils the latest results as it has recently completed 6 new scientific expeditions in 2022 in all the Lesser Antilles. The findings show that our waters are very rich but threatened. More data are needed to better protect this resource which is one of the pillars of our blue economy. Thanks to the cooperative work carried out during the expeditions, 437 sightings of 21 species have been recorded in 2 years, including 202 sightings of juveniles.

“Ti Whale An Nou” (Our Little Whales) is the largest cetacean study program ever conducted in the Caribbean. It is first and foremost a local project, led and carried out by motivated West Indians, including people from the islands of the Dutch Caribbean, who are concerned about preserving their islands. Several employees of the Saba Conservation Foundation, St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA), STINAPA Bonaire, Nature Foundation St. Maarten, Aruba National Park Foundation, DCNA secretariat and WWF-NL joined the CCS team for this expedition. As cetaceans cannot recognize human boundaries, cooperation is essential to study and protect them. This is why the CCS has brought together in the field international participants, including members of the government and marine protected areas of 9 islands. Finally, it is an essential tool for local capacity building.

All the Caribbean islands depend on the marine ecosystem for their food and income, so it is important to protect it. Whales and dolphins play an essential role in maintaining the good condition of our ecosystems. They are pillars of our blue economy. However, the latest results of the CCS show that more than half (52%) of the cetaceans observed in 2021 have scars of anthropogenic origin. That is, traces of propellers, nets, collisions, etc. … inflicted by humans. The current lack of data does not allow us to effectively protect our natural heritage. This is why the CCS continues to organize inventories in all the islands. This is a first in terms of sustainable action of cooperation and protection of cetaceans in the Caribbean region.

Photo credit: WWF-NL

These actions are possible thanks to the support of partners: WWF-NL, Corail Caraïbes, the Parc Naturel régional de la Martinique, the EDF Group Foundation, Orange Caraïbes, SARA, DCNA, the Animal Welfare Institute, the Guadeloupe region, the Collectivité territoriale de Martinique, and Blue Marine Foundation.

 

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Nederlands

Zeezoogdieren in de Cariben: een bedreigde rijkdom in onze wateren

De afgelopen twee jaar heeft de Caribbean Cetacean Society (CCS) met steun van het Wereld Natuur Fonds (WWF-NL), de Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) en andere partners onderzoek gedaan naar walvisachtigen (walvissen en dolfijnen) in de Kleine Antillen.

CCS onthult de nieuwste resultaten nu het 6 nieuwe wetenschappelijke expedities heeft afgerond in 2022 over de hele Kleine Antillen. Uit de bevindingen blijkt dat onze wateren zeer rijk, maar bedreigd zijn. Er zijn meer gegevens nodig om deze hulpbron, een van de pijlers van onze blauwe economie, beter te beschermen. Dankzij de samenwerking tijdens de expedities zijn in twee jaar tijd 437 waarnemingen van 21 soorten geregistreerd, waaronder 202 waarnemingen van jonge dieren.

Photo credit WWF-NL

“Ti Whale An Nou” (Onze kleine walvissen) is het grootste walvisonderzoeksprogramma dat ooit in het Caribisch gebied is uitgevoerd. Het is in de eerste plaats een lokaal project, geleid en uitgevoerd door gemotiveerde West-Indiërs, inclusief mensen uit de eilanden van de Nederlandse Cariben, die bezorgd zijn over het behoud van hun eilanden. Verschillende medewerkers van Saba Conservation Foundation, St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA), STINAPA Bonaire, Nature Foundation St. Maarten, Aruba National Park Foundation, het DCNA secretariaat and  WWF-NL versterkten het team van CCS voor deze expeditie. Aangezien walvisachtigen geen menselijke grenzen erkennen, is samenwerking essentieel om ze te bestuderen en te beschermen. Daarom heeft de CCS in het veld internationale deelnemers bijeengebracht, waaronder leden van de regering en beschermde zeegebieden van 9 eilanden. Ten slotte is het een essentieel instrument voor lokale capaciteitsopbouw.

Alle Caribische eilanden zijn voor hun voedsel en inkomen afhankelijk van het mariene ecosysteem, dus is het belangrijk dit te beschermen. Walvissen en dolfijnen spelen een essentiële rol bij het in goede staat houden van onze ecosystemen. Zij zijn de pijlers van onze blauwe economie. Uit de laatste resultaten van de CCS blijkt echter dat meer dan de helft (52%) van de in 2021 waargenomen walvisachtigen littekens van antropogene oorsprong heeft. Dat wil zeggen, sporen van propellers, netten, botsingen, enz. toegebracht door de mens. Door het huidige gebrek aan gegevens kunnen we ons natuurlijk erfgoed niet doeltreffend beschermen. Daarom gaat de CCS door met het organiseren van inventarisaties op alle eilanden. Dit is een primeur op het gebied van duurzame samenwerking en bescherming van walvisachtigen in het Caribisch gebied.

Photo credit: WWF-NL

Deze acties zijn mogelijk dankzij de steun van partners: WWF-NL, Corail Caraïbes, het Parc Naturel régional de la Martinique, de EDF Group Foundation, Orange Caraïbes, SARA, DCNA, het Animal Welfare Institute, de regio Guadeloupe, de Collectivité territoriale de Martinique, en Blue Marine Foundation.

 

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Papiamentu

Mamíferonnan marino den Karibe: un rikesa menasá den nos awanan

Den e último dos añanan Caribbean Cetacean Society (CCS) a bin ta studia setáseonan (bayena i dòlfein) den Antia Menor ku sosten di Wereld Natuur Fonds (WWF-NL), Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) i otro partnernan.

Photo credit WWF-NL

CCS ta revelá e último resultadonan, awor ku resientemente nan a kompletá 6 ekspedishon sientífiko nobo den  2022, kubriendo tur e islanan di Antia Menor. E resultadonan ta mustra ku nos awanan ta hopi riku, pero nan ta ser menasá. Tin mester di mas dato pa por protehá mihó e rekurso importante akí, ku ta un di e pilánan di nos ekonomia blou. Danki na e trabou di kooperashon ku a ser hasí durante e ekspedishonnan, por a hasi 437 opservashon di 21 espesie den 2 aña, inkluyendo 202 opservashon di animalnan yòng.

“Ti Whale An Nou” (Nos propio bayenanan chikí) ta e programa di mas grandi ku a yega di ser kondusí pa  studia setáseonan den Karibe. E ta na promé lugá un proyekto lokal, guiá i ehekutá pa karibensenan motivá, inkluso hendenan di e islanan di Karibe Hulandes, kendenan ta preokupá tokante konservashon di nan islanan. Diferente empleado di Saba Conservation Foundation, St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA), STINAPA Bonaire, Nature Foundation St. Maarten, Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba, DCNA i WWF-NL ta forma parti di e tim di CCS pa e ekspedishon akí.

Pasobra setáseonan no por rekonosé fronteranan humano, kooperashon ta esensial pa studia i protehá nan. Ta p’esei CCS a trese huntu partisipantenen internashonal riba e tereno akí, inkluso miembronan di gobièrnu i di   organisashonnan ku ta manehá áreanan marino protehá di 9 diferente isla. Finalmente, e ta un hèrmènt esensial pa desaroyo di kapasidat lokal.

Tur e islanan di Karibe ta dependé di e ekosistema marino pa nan kuminda i entrada, pues ta importante pa protehá esaki. Bayena i dòlfein ta hunga un ròl esensial den mantené e bon kondishon di nos ekosistemanan. Nan ta pilánan di nos ekonomia blou. Sinembargo, e último resultadonan di CCS ta mustra ku mas ku mitar (52%) di e setáseonan opservá na 2021 tin sikatrisnan di orígen antropogéniko. Esei kiermen rastronan di propèler, reda, dalmentu, èts. ku a ser kousá pa hende. E falta di dato ku tin aktualmente no ta pèrmití nos pa protehá nos herensia natural di manera efektivo. Ta p’esei CCS ta sigui organisá ekspedishon pa hasi inventario na tur e islanan. Esaki ta e promé inisiativa pa loke ta trata akshon sostenibel di kooperashon i protekshon di setáseonan den region di Karibe.

Photo credit: WWF-NL

E akshonnan akí ta posibel danki na sosten di e partnernan: WWF-NL, Corail Caraïbes, Parc Naturel régional de la Martinique, EDF Group Foundation, Orange Caraïbes, SARA, DCNA, Animal Welfare Institute, region di Guadeloupe, Collectivité territoriale de Martinique, i Blue Marine Foundation.

 

 

 

 

Published in BioNews 58.

 

Date
2022
Data type
Media
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten