Fraser’s dolphin  (Lagenodelphis hosei)

While poorly-known, Fraser’s dolphin is believed to be reasonably abundant due to the incredibly large schools that have been observed (1). In certain areas, however, it remains vulnerable to the threat of hunting and by-catch. In the lower Antilles, Indonesia and (before its protection) the Philippines, this species has been killed by harpoon and its meat consumed or sold in local markets. Some are also taken in fisheries in Taiwan and Japan, and in many areas Fraser’s dolphin is caught unintentionally in fishing gear (2) (8).

The south-east Asian populations of Fraser’s dolphin are listed on Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), meaning that this species would significantly benefit from international cooperation. CMS encourages the range states to develop agreements that will benefit the conservation of this species (9). In 1992, the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines banned the ‘taking or catching, selling, purchasing, possessing, transporting and exporting of dolphins'. This order has not stopped dolphin hunting, but seems to have decreased the sale of dolphin meat openly in the market (8). The distribution, migratory behaviour, abundance and by-catch rates of Fraser’s dolphin are poorly known (8), and thus further research into this sociable dolphin is likely to be the first step in the development of any conservation measures.