Restricted Distribution IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XII/8.15 Bangkok, 4 March 2019 English only

INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION (of UNESCO) Twelfth Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC-XII) Manila, the Philippines, 2-5 April 2019

Item 5.2.6 of the Provisional Agenda

PROGRESS REPORT ON REGIONAL STUDY OF MARINE ENDANGERED SPECIES (MAMMALS AND SEA TURTLES)

IN THE TROPICAL ASIA FOR EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION

(Unedited)

In accordance with Terms of Reference of IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific, the report is provided to facilitate the consideration by the Sub-Commission on the progress made on the WESTPAC project – Regional Study of Marine Endangered Species (Mammals and Sea Turtles) in the Tropical Asia for Effective Conservation (MESTA).

The report presents a summary of the activities and results of MESTA over the last intersessional period. The Sub-Commission is invited to consider its workplan for the next intersessional period.

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XII/8.15 page 1

I. Project

1. Regional Study of Marine Endangered Species (Mammals and Sea Turtles) in the Tropical Asia for Effective Conservation (MESTA)

II. Project objectives and expected outputs/outcomes

2. The project considers the situation that the tropical Asia, spanning from the Indian Ocean to the West Pacific Ocean, lacks and needs scientific information, research capacity and effective protection for MES (Mammals and Sea Turtles). The project aims to establish a long term and regular regional mechanism and conduct relevant research activities to provide expertise for effective protection of MES in the tropical Asia.

3. The project expects to build a network for research and protection of MES in the tropical Asia, improve the research capacity for MES in the region, enrich the knowledge on MES in the region, and promote the conservation of MES in the region.

III. Principal Investigator (Chairperson) and Project Steering Group

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Xuelei Zhang, First Institute of Oceanography (FIO) - Ministry of Natural Resources of China

Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Saifullah A Jaaman, Institute of Oceanography & Environment - Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (INOS-UMT)

Project Steering Group: Prof. Dr. Xuelei Zhang, FIO-MNR (China) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saifullah A Jaaman, INOS-UMT (Malaysia) Dr. Kongkiat Kittiwatanawong, Phuket Marine Biological Center (Thailand) Dr. Juanita Joseph, Universiti Malaysia Sabah/Terengganu (Malaysia) Dr. Agung Dhamar Syakti, Raja Ali Haji Maritime University (Indonesia) Mr. Meas Rithy, Department of Marine and Coastal Conservation (Cambodia) Dr. Hiran Jayewardene, Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Co-operation (Sri Lanka) Mr. Mohammad Vol HJ Momin, Sakam Enterprise (Brunei)

Project participating experts and involvement of conservation sectors: Prof. Dr. Xiaomei Xu (Xiamen U, China) Dr. Ning Gao (National Marine Environment Monitoring Center, China) Prof. Zulqarnain Mohamed (UM, Malaysia) Dr. Ying Jiang (FIO, China) Dr. Xianyan Wang (TIO, China) Dr. Bingyao Chen (Nanjing Normal U, China) Dr. Nan Hu (National Ocean Technology Center, China) Dr. Rafidah Othman (UMS, Malaysia) Dr. Le Quang Dung (INOS-UMT, Viet Nam) Dr. Shah Nawaz Chowdhury (U Chittagong, Bangladesh) Dr. Myo Min Hlaing, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (Myanmar) Research and Development Centers of the Marine and Coastal Research and

Development Instiute (DMCR, MNRE, Thailand) Sarawak Dept of Fisheries/Forestry Department (Malaysia) Dept of Fisheries, Sabah & Labuan (Malaysia) Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, MoE (Cambodia)

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XII/8.15 page 2

Heart of Borneo Centre Brunei (Brunei Darussalam) and more.

IV. Terms of Reference of the Project Steering Group

(i) Composition

4. The Project Steering Group is composed of the PI, co-PI and major representatives from the project.

(ii) Functions

5. The steering group has the following functions:

To discuss and elaborate the annual work plan and other suggestions for the project; To recommend, discuss and adopt new members; To provide relevant information, data and materials to the program; To draft the program report; To participate the program meetings and training and recommend trainees; To coordinate the program activities in the member’s home country and submit the

activity report; and To explore supports from the member’s home country and other relevant agency or

organization.

V. Activities carried out during the last intersessional period (May 2017 – April 2019)

6. The Project carried out field research, meeting/workshop communications, academic publication and training programs of young scientists (selected activity photos attached).

7. The Project carried out field research every year in Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia. Through the field work, integrated methods of observation were applied and data/samples were collected to support the studies and knowledge development.

8. The Project conducted one local (meaning participants came from two project member countries) seminar, one regional forum session and one local workshop session in 2017, one local workshop session and sessions at three regional forum/symposium/workshop in 2018, and one local seminar in 2019.

9. The Project published new findings on dolphins and sea turtles in seven papers in international academic journals:

• Jiang Y, Zhang XL, Yang ZG, Jaaman SA, Xu QZ, Muda AM, Muhamad HM. 2018. The preliminary analysis about Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) echolocation signals during being chased. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, in press

• Muhamad HM, Xu XM, Zhang XL, Jaaman SA, Muda AM. 2018. First whistle descriptions of Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in Bay of Brunei, Sarawak, Malaysia. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 143(5):2708-2714

• Mahmud AI, Jaaman SA, Muda AM, Muhamad HM, Zhang XL, Scapini F. 2018. Factors influencing the behaviour of Irrawaddy dolphins Orcaella brevirostris (Owen in Gray, 1866) in Brunei Bay, Malaysia. Journal of Ethology. DOI: org/10.1007/s10164-018-0549-9

• Mahmud AI, Jaaman SA, Muda AM, Muhamad HM, Zhang XL, Scapini F. 2018. Population estimation, distribution, and habitat preference of Irrawaddy dolphins Orcaella brevirostris (Owen in Gray, 1866) in the Brunei Bay, Malaysian waters. Wildlife biology, DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00383

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XII/8.15 page 3

Nishizawa H, Joseph J, Chong YK, Kadir SAS, Isnain I, Ganyai TA, Jaaman SA, Zhang XL. 2018. Comparison of the rookery connectivity and migratory connectivity: insight into movement and colonization of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in Pacific-Southeast Asia. Marine Biology. DOI: org/10.1007/s00227-018-3328-9

Joseph J, Nishizawa H, Hassan M, Zakariah MI, Jaaman SA, Zhang XL. 2017. Utilization of Brunei Bay (Malaysia) as a developmental and foraging habitat for hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). Regional Studies in Marine Science, 16:304-307

Jutapruet, S., Intongcome, A., Wang, X.Y. and Huang, S.L. 2017. Distribution of three sympatric cetacean species in the coast of the central west of the Gulf of Thailand. Aquatic Mammals, 43(5): 465-473.

10. The Project trained/is training nine young scientists through pos-doc and postgraduate programs for Ph.D. and master students.

VI. Outputs generated during the intersessional period (May 2017 – April 2019)

11. The Project generated three major outputs during last intersessional period, respectively:

12. Successful application of new platforms, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and balloon-suspension camera, for observation and study of marine endangered species (marine mammals and sea turtles);

13. Promotion of bio-acoustic studies of marine mammals (dolphins and dugongs); and

14. Development of unmanned surface boat vehicles (USVs) as a new platform for observation and study of marine endangered species.

15. These outputs are empowering traditional methods being used, and together contribute toward an integrated observation and study of marine endangered species, WALA - watch, ask, listen and analysis. We expect WALA will contribute to the post-2020 global biodiversity framework of SMART (Specific Measurable Ambitious Realistic Time-bound) targets, and the SDG 2030 and UN Decade of Ocean Science.

VII. Problems encountered and actions to be considered by the 12th Intergovernmental Session, scheduled for 2-5 April 2019, Manila, the Philippines

16. In light of the considerable progress made and prominent results obtained during the last term(s), we propose to extend the project for another term of two years for continuous and further development and dissemination of technology and knowledge.

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XII/8.15 page 4 VIII. Workplan and Budget for May 2019 – April 2021

Program

Funding Required

Remark Activities Objectives Expected outputs/outcomes

Date and place IOC

Other sources (i.e. from

national or international)

Marine Endangered Species (Mammals and Sea Turtles) in the Tropical Asia for Effective Conservation (MESTA).

1. Regional symposium on MES

Exchange information and results on development of technology and knowledge

Dissemination of updated technology and knowledge

Mid 2019, Thailand

US$1000 for meeting

venue

US$25,000 from national

project(s)

2. Regional training course on MES

Training on both traditional and modern method/technology of observation and study

Dissemination of integrated methods of MES observation and study

Mid 2019, Indonesia

US$3000 for training

venue

US$20,000 from national

project(s)

3. Session at the 11th WESTPAC ISC

Exchange information and results on development of technology and knowledge

Dissemination of updated technology and knowledge

2020, Indonesia

US$2000 for Session Convener and invited presenter

travels

US$10,000 from national

project(s)

4. Regional workshop on MES

Exchange information and results on development of technology and knowledge

Dissemination of updated technology and knowledge

2021, China

US$1000 for meeting

venue

US$10,000 from national

project(s)

5. Local MES sessions / workshops

Exchange information and results on development of technology and knowledge

Dissemination of updated technology and knowledge

2019, 2020, 2021

Malaysia, Indonesia,

China

0 US$30,000 from national

project(s)

IOC/SC-WESTPAC-XII/8.15 page 5

Attachment: Selected photos of the project activities

Figure 1 MESTA Project team conducting field integrated research.

Figure 2 MESTA Project carried out seminar and discussion on MES research at the Universiti Malaysia

Sabah, 5 May 2017.

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Figure 3 MESTA Project carried out a session on MES research at the 5th China-Southeast Asian Countries

Marine Cooperation Forum, Kuala Lumpur, 16-17 Dec 2017.

Figure 4 MESTA Project presented at the Tropical Ocean and Marine Sciences International Symposium

(TOMSY), Kuala Terengganu, 30-31 Oct 2019.

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Figure 5 MESTA Project carried out presentations at the 6th China-Southeast Asian Countries Marine

Cooperation Forum, Beihai, 16-17 Nov 2018.

Figure 6 MESTA Project carried the initial presentations of the Borneo Ocean Talks 2019, Sabah,

18 Jan 2019.