title: Positive interactions between irrawaddy dolphins and artisanal fishers in the Chilika Lagoon of eastern India are driven by ecology, socioeconomics, and culture.
abstract: In human-dominated landscapes, interactions and perceptions towards wildlife are influenced by multidimensional drivers. Understanding these drivers could prove useful for wildlife conservation. We surveyed the attitudes and perceptions of fishers towards threatened Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) at Chilika Lagoon India. To validate the drivers of fisher perceptions, we : (1) observed dolphin foraging behavior at stake nets, and (2) compared catch per unit effort (CPUE) and catch income of fishers from stake nets in the presence and absence of foraging dolphins. We found that fishers were mostly positive towards dolphins, believing that dolphins augmented their fish catch and using culture to express their perceptions. Foraging dolphins were observed spending half their time at stake nets and were associated with significantly higher catch income and CPUE of mullet (Liza sp.), a locally preferred food fish species. Wildlife conservation efforts should use the multidimensional drivers of human-wildlife interactions to involve local stakeholders in management.
authors.affiliation: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia, coralie.dlima@my.jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Coralie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Lima
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamann
authors.forename: Anindya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Rohan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arthur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001290:Attitude; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003469:Culture; D004289:Dolphins / Q000502:physiology*; D056727:Endangered Species; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005398:Fisheries; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
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