CENTRE FOR DOLPHIN STUDIES

I) BACKGROUND
The CENTRE FOR DOLPHIN STUDIES (CDS), officially launched in 1990, evolved from the need to expand our knowledge of Western Indian Ocean, and in particular southern African, coastal and pelagic marine mammals, in light of the continued and increasing degradation of our environment. Through a network of scientists and post-graduate students, the more than 30 research programmes undertaken by the CDS have contributed in excess of 145 publications to the scientific and popular literature.

The CDS is closely allied with the goals and aims of the WORLD CONSERVATION UNION (IUCN) Species Survival Commission and in particular the Cetacean and Sirenian Specialist Groups. The close association of the CDS with a number of other institutions affords an inter/multidisciplinary approach, which results in an active and innovative program of research on marine mammals and their habitat.

II) MISSION and GOALS of the CENTRE FOR DOLPHIN STUDIES
The primary mission of the CDS is to gather information on all marine mammal, and particularly dolphin species, inhabiting the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). Secondly, to co-ordinate and integrate multidisciplinary research on the behaviour, ecology, taxonomy, anatomy, physiology, toxicology, parasitology, conservation and management of these marine mammals. Although available funding will inevitably restrict activities, research priorities will be decided by their urgency and the CDS attempts to generate financial support, for priority research and high calibre student education and public awareness campaigns, from governmental and private funding bodies.

The primary goals of the CDS are:
1/. Although research is concentrated in the coastal zone and, broadly, encompasses the coastal ecosystem, the primary objective is the development of an internationally recognised research programme for the long-term study of the marine mammals of the WIO. In this context, studies of the following, for each individual species of marine mammal, are important.

A. Biological Parameters:
A.1. Age, growth and longevity.
A.2. Age to sexual maturity (males and females).
A.3. Replacement rate (calving interval).
A.4. Length of gestation.
A.5. Period of maternal care.
A.6. Natural mortality by sex/age class.
A.4. Feeding (energetics) by sex/age class.

B. Population/stock Parameters:
B.1. What is the population/stock size?
B.2. Is the density uniform?
B.3. What influences density and why?

C. Distribution:
C.1. What influences distribution and why?
C.2. Does the distribution conflict with man?

D. Population and Social Structure:
D.1. Sociology (what is the primary social unit & what are the social interactions -behaviour- within it)?
D.2. What influences this?
D.3. What are the implications for the species' biology?
D.4. What is the population unit for each species?
D.5. What is the unit's/population structure?
D.6. What is the stock unit?
D.7. Are stocks linked in any way?

E. Influence of Man's Activities:
E.1. What activities impact on marine mammals?
E.2. What are the characteristics of these activities?
E.3. What is the impact (mortality)?
E.4. What sections (sex/age/size class) are impacted?
E.5. What are the consequences for group/stock/population?
E.6. How can this be avoided/prevented/reversed?

F. Conservation and Management (M/C) Considerations:
F.1. What is the prognosis for the group/stock/population?
F.2. Can M/C recommendations be formulated?
F.3. What should they address?
F.4. To whom should they be addressed?
F.5. What is the prognosis should M/C be implemented?

2/. Through the integration of research results, to generate long-term assessments of the status of coastal marine and marine mammal (both coastal and pelagic) assets of the WIO.

3/. To provide information on environmental quality and ecosystem status through the study of long-term changes in top level predator location and foraging patterns. This is particularly valuable in view of continuing coastal zone degradation and world ocean climate changes related to the global Greenhouse Effect.

4/. Encourage the science of marine mammalogy through the teaching of undergraduate and post-graduate students.

5/. To encourage the authorities of WIO states to conserve and manage their marine mammal and coastal resources and to provide relevant advice to accomplish this.

6/. To educate the public of the relevance of marine mammals to coastal and open ocean systems and the need for the conservation and management of these systems and marine mammals.

7/. To co-operate closely with other research institutions, individuals and agencies to achieve these goals.

III) ASSETS and RESOURCES
The most valuable assets of the CDS are the work and ideas of the scientists and institutions associated with it. Their combined expertise provides an excellent base from which the state of health of WIO marine mammal and associated assets can be assessed and monitored.

The capital resources of the CDS are varied and include cameras, boats, vehicles and computer, communication and navigation equipment. All capital resources are invested totally and available exclusively for research within the CDS.