Abstract

There is a great diversity of marine mammal species inhabiting the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean region. Some extend their areas of distribution latitudinally to the South American Caribbean. Some extend theirs longitudinally towards the Atlantic into the African coasts. The ecology, natural history and distribution of most of these species is practically unknown. For others, the interaction between them and the fisheries through their known incidental mortality rates, have determined the status of their populations. Some have suffered species extinction, like the Caribbean monk seal, and others have recovered completely from commercial exploitation, like the humpback whale. Populations and individuals may interact directly through contact with the fisheries, or indirectly through habitat degradation, pollution and consequent population decline. Cetacean species which inhabit nearshore areas are most vulnerable to fatal interactions with fishing gear, boat traffic, pollution, drainage, explosions and human activities in genral. The effects of habitat degradation, specially of wetlands, coastal lagoons and mangrove ecosystems, as well as the effect of incidental mortality in fishing gear, influence the stability and viability of family groups and populations of whales and dolphins that inhabit, transit or forage in these areas through the year or seasonally. Due to the vastness of the areas marine mammals inhabit, the establishment of coastal or marine reserves are insufficient conservation measures simply because they contemplate boundaries that do not exist for these species. The constant research and application of remote sensing capabilities is very important for monitoring and enforcing conservation and management procedures.

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