Overview
Researcher Imran Samad first encountered dolphins in 2020 while pursuing his master’s at the NCBS. After completing his master’s on Ganges river dolphins, he joined the IISc for a PhD and co‑produced the short film *The Humpbacks of Goa* with Akhilesh Tambe. Funded by the Rufford Foundation and the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship, the film spotlights the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin and the burgeoning dolphin‑watching industry in Goa.
Key Developments
- Release of *The Humpbacks of Goa*, a documentary focusing on the Cetaceans conservation challenges in a major tourist hub.
- Reveals that the dolphin‑watching industry in Goa has operated for over 20 years with minimal regulation.
- Highlights the absence of national‑level guidelines for marine wildlife tourism, unlike regulated wildlife sectors such as tiger tourism.
- Calls for a multi‑stakeholder framework involving the government, tourism ministry, fisheries, local communities, and tourists.
Important Facts about Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin
The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) is one of two humpback dolphin species found in India, the other being the Indo‑Pacific humpback dolphin on the east coast. These Mysticetes and Odontocetes are obligatory coastal species, typically staying within 2‑4 km of the shoreline. Their narrow coastal distribution makes them highly vulnerable to fishing nets, boat traffic, and pollution. Despite these pressures, they persist in nutrient‑rich waters created by river outflows along the Goan coast.
UPSC Relevance
Understanding the plight of humpback dolphins touches upon several UPSC syllabus areas: environmental governance (GS3), the need for wildlife protection legislation and its implementation (GS3), and the ethical dimensions of ecotourism (GS4). The case illustrates gaps in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 concerning marine mammals and underscores the importance of integrating coastal zone management with tourism policy.
Way Forward
Imran envisions a collaborative platform where the government, tourism ministry, local fishing communities, and tour operators align on conservation goals. Immediate steps include: (i) drafting national guidelines for dolphin‑watching, (ii) training boat operators in non‑intrusive observation techniques, (iii) raising awareness among tourists through educational material, and (iv) conducting systematic scientific surveys to fill data gaps on distribution, population size, and life‑history traits of Indian cetaceans.