'Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi'
Abstract
Marine mammals – such as whales, dolphins, porpoises and sea cows have long been considered to be some of the most spectacular and majestic mega fauna on earth. For generations, they have captured the attention and imagination of people and cultures all over the world. Despite their beauty and the awe they inspire, virtually every species of marine mammal is listed as threatened or endangered, largely due to the direct and indirect impacts of human activities. Hundreds of years of aggressive hunting, combined with habitat destruction, marine noise, chemical pollution and increased shipping traffic have reduced populations to just a fraction of their original numbers. Several species are facing imminent extinction. In recent years, there is increasing awareness of the integral importance of marine mammals to healthy aquatic ecosystems, and of the growing threats that a variety of human activities pose to these animals and their environments
