Fisheries Dept collaborates to protect rare Spinner dolphins in Ayeyawady Region

U Phone Maw, in-charge of the Thameehla Island Sea Turtle Conservation Camp under the Fisheries Department (Ayeyawady Region), announced that the department will partner with environmental and wildlife conservation organizations to safeguard the rare Spinner dolphin species found near Kyakan Beach in Ngaputaw Township, Ayeyawady Region.
Fifteen Spinner dolphins were accidentally entangled in fishing nets on Kyakan beach near Mawtinsun Pagoda at approximately 2 pm on 12 March. All fifteen dolphins were swiftly released back into the sea.
“Fifteen dolphins were inadvertently trapped in the fishing nets. They were all released back into the sea within 15 minutes of realizing the accidental capture. As it is currently the time of the pagoda festival, we released them back into the sea alive. None of them perished. They are not Irrawaddy dolphins; they belong to the rare Spinner species,” stated U Phone Maw.
These Spinner dolphins have been congregating in a group in the waters between Leik Island and Mawtinsun since late February. — ASH/ TMT