Project Objective
To understand the distribution and connectivity of humpback dolphin in the Ungwana Bay Area
2020 – current
The Lamu Archipelago and Kiunga Marine National Reserve are located northern coast close to the Kenya- Somali border and cover 650km, 2/3rds of Kenya of coastline.
This seascape has important marine ecosystems including coral reefs, sea grass beds and extensive mangrove forests. Through citizen science reports, species recorded in the area include the Indo-Pacific bottlenose, Indian Ocean humpback, and Risso’s dolphin, and whales include blue, Bryde’s, humpback and killer, Longman’s beaked and Cuvier’s, also the critically endangered dugong. Targeted marine mammal research prior to 2020 has been limited.
Our aim is to determine species presence and populations in this remote area with restricted access. There pressing need to assess anthropogenic threats from bycatch and other marine stressors. With consistent surveys, it is expected that anecdotal sightings will be verified, and a renewed submission be made to International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for this biologically diverse area, be designated as an Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA) and become the 4 th IMMA in Kenya.
