Three dolphins have been found dead in the last six months along beaches in Kep province, according to the chief of the Phum Thmey community, Prak San, the latest one found two weeks ago. Provincial fishery officials and community members buried the dolphin carcass.
“On May 31, tourists found a dead Irrawaddy dolphin by the Phum Thmey community in Kep,” he said. “Sadly, I think the dolphins died because they were caught by fishermen, and then floated here.”
More than 50 Irrawaddy dolphins are present in the waters of Kep province, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Saltwater Irrawaddy dolphins can also be found in Koh Rong in Preah Sihanouk province and the Peam Krasop areas of Koh Kong province.
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries spokesperson Im Rachna could not be reached for comment.
Kuch Virak, director of the Kep provincial fisheries administration, said that most of the dolphin deaths are due to natural disasters.
“The Kep provincial fisheries administration has taken care to participate in the protection of rare animal populations, especially rare and endangered animals, in collaboration with professional officers and related partner organisations to protect marine animals in Kep province,” he said.
Rose Ellis, cofounder of the NGO Khmer Ocean Life which does research on Cambodia’s marine mammals, said the recent dolphin death could be due to a fishing incident, pollution, disease or natural causes.
“Their [the dolphins’] seagrass habitat is destroyed by some fishing practices and sometimes they are accidentally caught and killed or injured by fishers,” she said.
It is important for fishers to report stranded and dead dolphins that are found on the coastline so that researchers can better understand the causes of deaths, she said.
Nao Thuok, Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries did not provide answers to CamboJA’s questions sent through Telegram. When reached by phone, he said he was busy.
The most recent death comes just a month after the government reversed an order that was designed to protect dolphins in the Mekong River.
In February, the government passed a sub-decree that prohibits fishing and travelling at fast speeds, along with other activities, in order to protect dolphins in Stung Treng and Kratie provinces. Just two months after the sub-decree was passed, the government reversed it because of the economic impact it had on local fishing businesses.
WWF-Cambodia reported that at least 11 Irrawaddy dolphins died in 2022, and at least 29 died between 2020 and the end of 2022.
