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Namibian Dolphin Project | Oceans Research
The Namibian Dolphin Project is a study of the ecology of three dolphin species and is being run by Simon Elwen (University of Pretoria) and Ruth Leeney (Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies - USA) who are working closely with the Ministry of Fisheries, Namibian NGOs and the local community, particularly the commercial marine-tour operators.
The ocean off Namibia has been severely affected by overfishing in the last few decades. As a result, marine research has largely focused on commercially important fish species and those factors thought to impact thereon and the cetacean fauna has been largely overlooked. There are three dolphin species commonly found in Namibian coastal waters, namely the Heaviside's, dusky and bottlenose dolphins. As well as prey depletion from overfishing, potential threats to the dolphin populations include bycatch in fishing nets, pollution, uncontrolled eco-tourism and coastal development changing the nature of their environment. Currently there is very little data available on the ecology of these species and baseline data on the abundance, movements, habitat choice of all the coastal delphinid species of Namibia are urgently needed to be able to assess their conservation status. The Namibian dolphin project aims to supply the necessary data.
The Namibian dolphin project is conducted in collaboration with, and under permission from the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
Namibian Dolphin Project:
Population Research Projects
Population assessment
The project is investigating the size of the populations by photographically identifying individual dolphins from natural marks and scars, which allows the team to look at individual dolphin movements and interactions and estimate the number of animals using the bay. The overall aim is to generate an abundance estimate of (i) Heaviside's and (ii) bottlenose dolphins in the Walvis Bay area.
Stranding network project
The Namibian Dolphin Project is working closely with the Coastal Environment Trust of Namibia (CETN), the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and the NACOMA project to reinvigorate the Namibian strandings network, to train people who will be able to assist in rescue and data collection from stranded whales, dolphins and turtles.
Namibian Dolphin Project:
Behavioural Research Projects
Critical habitat identification
This project is documenting habitat use and critical habitat areas for these and other dolphin and whale species, using visual surveys and novel static acoustic monitoring techniques.
Habitat utilisation patterns
This aspect of the project aims to describe key habitats used by (i) Heaviside's (ii) bottlenose and (iii) dusky dolphins within the near shore environment in the Walvis Bay region. These patterns are then related to animal behaviour (feeding, socialising, resting etc) and human impacts in the environment.
Namibian Dolphin Project:
Physiological Research Projects
No Physiological projects currently underway
Namibian Dolphin Project:
Ecological Research Projects
Ecological impacts
Very little data exists on the ecology of the three species of dolphins found in Namibian coastal waters (Heaviside's, dusky and bottlenose), despite potentially significant anthropogenic threats in the environment, including bycatch, pollution, prey depletion by fisheries and uncontrolled eco-tourism. Of chief concern is the Heaviside's dolphin which has a limited range and is endemic to the Benguela current region (IUCN Red Data List: Data deficient).
Namibian Dolphin Project:
Socioeconomics Research Projects
Environmentally responsible eco-tourism
This is a collaborative educational project with local tourism vessels to encourage an educational and conservation-oriented aspect to their interactions with marine wildlife.
Impact of Oyster farming
This project is investigating the impact of high density oyster farming on the habitat use and feeding patterns of bottlenose dolphins at Walvis Bay.
Capacity building
This project aims to build local research capacity in scientists, conservators and students by providing them with basic training in the field and analytical techniques required for effective cetacean surveys and photo-ID and stranded animal data collection.
Namibian Dolphin Project:
Past Research Projects
Previous Namibian Dolpin research projects
The Namibian Dolphin Project builds on the early findings from Dr Elwen's PhD research in South Africa. This 3-year study investigated the distribution, movements, behaviour and abundance of Heaviside's dolphins in the near-shore environment of the Western Cape of South Africa. Data was gathered using three different approaches in the field; diurnal shore based observations, boat based photo-ID surveys along ~390 km of coastline and satellite telemetry. This work was the first to describe the habitat use and movement patterns of Heaviside's dolphins and produced the first abundance estimate for the species.