Marine Mammal Welfare Human Induced Change in the Marine Environment and its Impacts on Marine Mammal Welfare

Marine mammals attract human interest – sometimes this interest is benign or positive – whale watching, conservation programmes for whales, seals, otters, and efforts to clear beaches of marine debris are seen as proactive steps to support these animals. However, there are many forces operating to affect adversely the lives of whales, seals, manatees, otters and polar bears – and this book explores how the welfare of marine mammals has been affected and how they have adapted, moved, responded and sometimes suffered as a result of the changing marine and human world around them. Marine mammal welfare addresses the welfare effects of marine debris, of human traffic in the oceans, of noise, of hunting, of whale watching and tourism, and of some of the less obvious impacts on marine mammals – on their social structures, on their behaviours and migration, and also of the effects on captivity for animals kept in zoos and aquaria. There is much to think and talk about – how marine mammals respond in a world dramatically influenced by man, how are their social structures affected and how is their welfare impacted?

al climate effects on Pinniped welfare.- 4.7 Social change in Pinniped populations resulting from human influences.- 4.8 Pinnipeds in captivity.- 4.9 Assessing the welfare of Pinnipeds – in the wild and in captivity.- 5. Sirenia – dugongs and manatees.- 5.1 The welfare effects of human interactions on Manatees and Dugongs – boats, boat strikes, tourism, noise, the coastline as a recreational zone.- 5.2 The welfare effects on Sirenia of marine debris and fisheries equipment, entanglement, toxicity.- 5.3 Welfare impacts of loss of habitat, human induced changes in distribution and feeding and reproductive behaviours, and disturbances to behaviours and social dynamics of Sirenia.- 5.4 Social change in Sirenian populations resulting from human influences.- 5.5 Global climate effects on Sirenian welfare.- 5.6 Sirenia in captivity.- 5.7 Assessing the welfare of Sirenia – in the wild and in captivity.- 6. Ursidae - polar bears.- 6.1 The welfare effects of human interactions – human food and human waste, proximity to habitation, living together with polar bears.- 6.2 The welfare effects on Polar Bears of marine debris, fisheries equipment, entanglement, toxicity.- 6.3 Welfare impacts of loss of habitat, human induced changes in distribution and feeding and reproductive behaviours, and disturbances to behaviours and social dynamics of Polar Bears.- 6.4 Social change in Polar Bear populations resulting from human influences.- 6.5 Global climate effects on Polar Bear welfare.- 6.6 Hunting of Polar Bears.- 6.7 Polar Bears in captivity.- 6.8 Assessing the welfare of Polar Bears – in the wild and in captivity.- 7. Lutrinae – otters.- 7.1 The welfare effects of human interactions on otters – dogs, disturbance, fishing.- 7.2 The welfare effects on Otters of water borne debris, fisheries equipment, entanglement, toxicity.- 7.3 Welfare impacts of loss of habitat, human induced changes in distribution and feeding and reproductive behaviours, and disturbances to behaviours and social dynamics of Otters.- 7.4 Social change in Otters populations resulting from human influences.- 7.5 Global climate effects on Otter welfare.- 7.6 Hunting of Otters.- 7.7 Otters in captivity.- 7.8 Assessing the welfare of Otters – in the wild and in captivity.- 8. Conclusions.- 9. References.