About 70 percent of the Sundarbans dolphin deaths are due to incidental killing by fishing nets, while 8 percent is attribute to poison fishing, 6 percent to the decline of fish and crustaceans, 6 percent to the decrease of freshwater flow and 5 percent to siltation. The above statistics were revealed at a function held in the city on the occasion of observing the ‘International Freshwater Dolphin Day 2019’ on Thursday. Every year October 24 is observed as the International Freshwater Dolphin Day globally.
On the occasion Bangladesh also observed the day with due importance. Referring to a study presented at the function, researches said that at least six species of dolphin and a species of porpoise move around Goshiakhali channel near Dhanmari sanctuary there near rivers of the world's largest mangrove forest in the Sundarbans.
The scientists, however, expressed grave concern at the rate of disappearance of the highly intelligent marine mammals dolphins. Presenting further information the study says that there were 225 Ganges dolphins and 451 Irrawaddy Dolphins in the Bangladesh portion of the Sundarbans. But these are now endangered mammals due to both natural and manmade causes, according to a 2009 estimate of the US-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
The study also reveals that there are some 6,000 Irrawady dolphins, over 1,000 Bottlenose dolphins and a significant number of Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphins, pan-tropical spotted dolphins and spinner dolphins in the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans. In 2012, Bangladesh government had declared the Dhangmari, Chandpai and Dudhmukhi areas of Pasur and Andharmanik rivers as dolphin sanctuaries covering 32 linear kilometres, aiming to protect the aquatic mammal from extinction.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Forest Department has formed six dolphin conservation teams involving the community people, who are the most vulnerable to climate change as many are struggling with their livelihoods against the rising sea. A 12-member conservation team is enganged in the forest communities in educating local fishermen not to catch fish in the dolphin sanctuaries identified by Bangladesh Forest Department.
Dolphins could be protected and saved from being trapped in fishing nets by controlling vessel movement in the Sundarbans and checking fishing nets there, speakers at the function organized by ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MOEFCC).
Habibun Nahar, Deputy Minister, of MOEFCC, attended as the chief guest.
In July, 2016 Bangladesh forest department and UNDP- Bangladesh jointly initiated a project titled “Expanding the protected area system to incorporate important aquatic ecosystem (EPASIIAE) project,” funded by global Environment facility (GEF) for the conservation of dolphin in the Sundarbans.
IUCN Bangladesh along with CNRS started implementing the outreach, capacity building in management plan activities of the projects since June 2018. The ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MOEFCC) has planned observing three-day event to mark the International Freshwater Dolphin Day 2019 from October 24-26 at the Liberation War Museum, Agargaon in the capital.
Abdullah al- Mohsin Chowdhury, Secretary, Dr Md Billal Hossain, Additional Secretary, (admin) Dr SM Monjurul Hannan Khan, Additional Secretary, (Development) of MOEFCC, Van Nguyen, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh and Raquibul Amin, Country Representative of IUCN Bangladesh were also present in the programme.
