UAE releases extensive study of local whales and dolphins

The Fujairah Environment Authority has released a book on whales and dolphins in the Arabian region. The publication highlights the features of marine mammals in Fujairah in particular.

Whales and dolphins are usually only encountered by fishermen and sailors, but the book provides an insight into the wider issues of fishing, whaling, shipping and tourism in one of the world’s fastest growing regions.

The publication is the result of five years of research by Robert Baldwin, CEO of 5 Oceans, and Balazs Bouzas, a wildlife research consultant. It is rich in illustrations and photographs from the coastal waters of a still little-explored corner of the Arabian region.

Fujairah is characterised by a diversity of marine life and is home to dolphins, sea turtles, sea snakes and seabirds, as well as a large number of fish and other marine life. Occasionally, large whales appear in its coastal waters.

Twenty-two species of whales and dolphins have been recorded in the Arabian region, 12 of which can be found off the coast of Fujairah. Earlier, the Sharjah Environmental Protection and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) revealed the cause of death of whales found on UAE coasts. The dead mammals were found in Sharjah, Dubai, Umm Al Quwain and Khor Fakkan.

Collisions with large vessels, entanglement in fishing gear and ingestion of plastic waste caused the deaths of these whales. During the tests, tissues from five Bryde’s, one blue and one humpback whale were analysed. The presence of pollutants and heavy metals were found in the tissues of the whales.

Among the causes of death, collisions with large vessels were the most prominent, as well as entanglement in fishing gear – especially strong ropes, which often results in severe injuries. Whales also fall victim to the plastic debris that fills the sea depths. They consume bags and empty containers along with their food, leading to blockages in their digestive tracts and consequent death.

Source: WAM