NSW Scientific Committee - final determination
The Scientific Committee has found that:
1. The Indo-Pacific Humpbacked Dolphin, Sousa chinensis, is currently listed as a Vulnerable Species on Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act. All marine mammals in NSW waters are protected by the special provisions of Section 112 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act which prohibits unauthorised approach and harm.
2. The Indo-Pacific Humpbacked Dolphin, Sousa chinensis occurs around the Indian Ocean coasts of Africa, Asia and north-western Australia, and from southern China through the Indo-Malay Archipelago to north-eastern Australia (Ross et al. 1994; Jefferson and Karczmarski 2001). In Australia, the species occurs in northern coastal waters from the NSW-Queenland border to Exmouth Gulf (Corkeron et al. 1997).
3. At the time of listing, S. chinensis was considered a regular visitor to NSW waters. The Scientific Committee has found that the species occurs in NSW only as a rare vagrant. Two records are known of strandings (at Tweed Heads in 1962 and Port Macquarie in 1976). A skull of S. chinensis is held by Cambridge University in England which was collected in the nineteenth century from Wollongong (Smith 2001).
4. The Scientific Committee has formed the opinion that NSW waters do not provide habitat, nor have provided habitat in the past for the Indo-Pacific Humpbacked Dolphin. As a rare vagrant to NSW waters, no threatening processes have been identified that will cause the species to become endangered and therefore it is not eligible for listing under the Threatened Species Conservation Act.
5. In view of the above, the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the the Indo-Pacific Humpbacked Dolphin, Sousa chinensis (Osbeck 1765), is no longer eligible to be listed as a vulnerable species in Schedule 2 of the Act.
Proposed Gazettal date: 12/07/02
Exhibition period: 12/07/02 - 16/08/02
References
Corkeron, P.J., Morisette, N.M., Porter, L. and Marsh, H. (1997). Distribution and status of hump-backed dolphins, Sousa chinensis, in Australian waters. Asian Marine Biology 14, 49-59.
Jefferson, T.A. and Karczmarski, L. (2001). Sousa chinensis. Mammalian Species No. 655.
Ross, G.J.B., Heinsohn, G.E. and Cockcroft, V.G. (1994). Humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis (Osbeck 1765), Sousa plumbea (G. Cuvier 1829) and Sousa teuszii (Kukenthal 1892). In 'Handbook of Marine Mammals, Volume 5, the First Book of Dolphins'. (Eds S.H. Ridgway and R. Harrison.) pp. 23-42. (Academic Press: London.)
Smith, P. (2001). Review of the conservation status of marine mammals in New South Wales. Report to the NSW Scientific Committee.