The first edition of the widely praised Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, published in 2005, led to numerous new marine protected area proposals and a number of notable conservation successes around the world. In this completely revised and expanded second edition, new developments in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Pacific are described, as well as future directions for High Seas protection. New sections show how to design and manage MPAs in an ever noisier ocean subject to climate change, increased shipping and hydrocarbon exploration. The process of protected area creation for cetaceans has been accelerated and more than 200 exciting new places are detailed in this edition. This book provides a route map for MPA managers, as well as countries, to meet the ambitious targets for highly protected MPA networks by 2012 and 2020. This book is a key conservation tool and a springboard for worldwide change in human attitudes toward the world ocean where all life originated and where the majority of life on Earth still lives.

'Erich Hoyt's handbook is an admirable, timely and highly welcome contribution.'Michael Stachowitsch, Marine EcologyWhat does it mean to save the whales if their habitat is left unprotected? Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises is the definitive handbook on this pressing issue and the first to bridge the gap between the disciplines of marine protected areas and cetacean conservation. It launches a new chapter in cetacean conservation with its investigation into the crucial habitat needs and protection requirements of some 84 species.The author, one of the world's foremost experts in this field, takes you around the world to investigate the promising results of the latest conservation research and the strategies for obtaining marine protected areas in coastal waters and on the high seas, using national legislation and regional and international conventions. This is an essential introduction, guide and reference work for those working to ensure a future for whales and dolphins.

The Intelligent Dolphins, The Giant Whales And The Inoffensive Dugong Or Sea-Cow Are Among The Most Fascinating Creatures In The Wild. Every Aspect Of Their Way Of Life Is Astonishing Some Of Them Use Sound To See In The Water, Some Of Them Dive To Incredible Depths In Search Of Food, And Some Of Them Sing Complex Songs. Marine Mammals Are So Intriguing That Worldwide There Is A Multi-Million Dollar Industry In Just Watching These Animals. Yet, In India Few Are Even Aware That There Are Many Of These Creatures In The Seas Around The Country A Full Fourth Of The World S 120 Or So Species, In Fact. This Is Due To The Lack Of Information About Them. Most Existing Records Are Scattered In Various Scientific Journals. No Book Published So Far Covers This Group Of Indian Wildlife Adequately. This Book Is Meant For A Wide Range Of Readers Including Children, Wildlife Enthusiasts And Serious Students. A Significant Part Of The Book Is Devoted To The More Than 30 Species Accounts, Which Make The Book A Useful Reference. Glimpses Of Their Lifestyles Are Given Through Several Essays Dealing, For Example, With The Phenomenon Of Mass Strandings Of Whales Or The Reputed Ferocity Of The Killer Whale. Further, Color Illustrations And Character Matrices Meant For Easy Identification Make Marine Mammals Of India A Useful Field Guide. The Extensive Bibliography Makes The Book A Valuable Research Aid. The Accounts Of Whaling And Other Threats Faced By Marine Mammals Highlight The Conservation Requirements Of These Animals.

Twenty-three separate papers, each describing a single species.

Consistent evaluation and new recommendations for action are required of protective measures to address threats that were unrecognized or non-existent until recently. Global warming, noise pollution and reduced availability of prey are now of great concern. The all too familiar threats of accidental killing in fishing gear and exposure to toxic chemicals remain almost intractable. This Action Plan reviews threats and offers possible solutions. It also contains a thorough review of the status of species and a list of 57 recommended research projects and education initiatives.