Review of Cetaceans in the Red Sea

Abstract

The number of cetacean species present in the Red Sea is unknown. Navigation and associated exploration of Red Sea waters dates back thousands of years, but despite relatively high levels of human activity in the basin, observations of cetaceans in the Red Sea remain sparse. However, the absence of a comprehensive record of these marine mammals in the Red Sea is not due to the absence of cetaceans. The first published report of cetaceans in the Red Sea was made by Forskål at the end of the 18th century and information about encounters with both live and stranded dolphins and whales continued throughout the 19th century. During the first 80 years of the 20th century a number of new sightings confirmed previous observations, suggesting some additions to the list. Following establishment of the Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary in 1979, a renewed interest arose about cetacean conservation and dedicated surveys finally commenced. Information from smaller-scale projects was then collected in the waters off Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Eritrea, Yemen and Israel, further raising the tally of cetacean species recorded in the Red Sea. The timely review presented in this chapter notes that at least 17 species of cetaceans have been observed in the Red Sea, including: Balaenoptera edeni, B. musculus, B. omurai, Megaptera novaeangliae, Delphinus delphis cfr. tropicalis, Grampus griseus, Globicephala macrorhynchus, Kogia sima, Orcinus orca, Pseudorca crassidens, Steno bredanensis, Stenella attenuata, S. coeruleoalba, S. longirostris, Sousa plumbea, Tursiops aduncus, and T. truncatus. Whilst the cetacean populations of the northern Red Sea have been recently assessed, it is a matter of concern that much less is known about the presence of cetaceans in the central and southern parts of the basin. Given the accelerating growth of human populations, together with the associated degradation of the marine environment, there is an urgent need for a more up-to-date appraisal of cetaceans, including the presence, abundance, distribution and behaviour of represented species throughout the Red Sea. The effectiveness of cetacean stock management and conservation depends on such information and there is a duty of care for governments, NGOs and academic institutions within the region to support and facilitate the research required to acquire a better understanding of the Red Sea’s whales and dolphins.