Aerial sighting rate and distribution of marine mammals in Sarawak waters and Southwest Sabah (Brunei Bay)

Chin, Woan Yee (2008) Aerial sighting rate and distribution of marine mammals in Sarawak waters and Southwest Sabah (Brunei Bay). Universiti Malaysia Sabah. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Marine mammals are known to occur in Malaysian water, especially in East Malaysia. Marine mammals are fully protected by Fisheries Act 1985 and Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998 in Sarawak. Aerial surveys were done in Sarawak waters for 13 days in June 2007 by Sarawak Forestry Corporation in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Sabah Wildlife Department. The aim is to investigate the different species of marine mammals present in Sarawak, their sighting rate and distribution. The aerial survey covers a distance of 5,108.08 km, using 29.86 hours in 13 days. Throughout the survey, 45 sightings were made, consisting 33 sightings of dolphins, six of whales and six of dugongs. The aerial sighting rate was 20.1 sightings per 1000 km.hrs. The total survey effort was 10,089.53 km.hrs. Dugongs were found only in Brunei Bay, where they are known to be dwelling that area based on previous studies. Active oil rigs and petroleum exploration in Miri might have affected the distribution and number of marine mammals. Urban and industrial developments were seen to have effect to the coastal water, and this in turn influenced the marine mammals' distribution. Similar surveys and monitoring should be carried out to further confirm and understand the marine mammals in Sarawak waters.

Item Type: Academic Exercise
Keyword: marine mammals, Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998, Fisheries Act 1985, aerial survey, development, Sarawak waters, petroleum exploration, active oil rigs
Subjects: S Agriculture > SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
Department: SCHOOL > School of Science and Technology
Depositing User: SITI AZIZAH BINTI IDRIS -
Date Deposited: 08 Apr 2014 11:46
Last Modified: 13 Oct 2017 10:18
URI: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/8677

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