Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Stephanie Plön
Contributors: Claire Relton Shanan Atkins Ken Findlay Simon Elwen Mike Meyer Herman Oosthuizen Matthew Child
Reviewers: Vic Cockcroft

Rationale

Abundance data for this widely-distributed species are unavailable for the assessment region. However, the population is suspected to be fairly abundant and robust in many parts of its range. For example, there are estimated to be over 45,000 animals in the eastern tropical Pacific. As this species is deep-diving, it is potentially increasingly threatened by the emerging threats of marine noise (especially military sonar and seismic surveys) and plastic pollution, the effects of which should be monitored. Competition with fisheries may also cause local declines. However, no threats are suspected to be causing net population decline currently. Therefore, in line with the global assessment, this species remains Least Concern.

Regional population effects: In South African waters, this species is believed to be at the extreme southern edge of its range. Sightings of this species have been recorded from the Mozambique Channel, and no barriers to dispersal have been identified, thus rescue effects are possible.

Distribution

Although Melon-headed Whales have a worldwide distribution across tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions (Perryman et al. 1994), there is a general lack of knowledge surrounding the ecology of this species. This is partly due to the fact that this species is primarily distributed well offshore, thus making scientific research challenging. However, recent studies indicate that in some areas, such as French Polynesia in the South Pacific (Brownell et al. 2009), the Comoros in the Indian Ocean (Kiszka et al. 2011), the Hawaiian Islands (Aschettino et al. 2011) and Palmyra Atoll in the tropical Pacific (Baumann-Pickering 2009), Melon-headed Whales occasionally occur within shallower, nearshore regions, around oceanic islands. Generally, their distribution extends from 20°N to 20°S (Perryman 2002).

Within the assessment region, there have been no sightings of this species, however, it was first identified in South Africa from a stranding record in Hout Bay. Best and Shaughnessy (1981) suggest that the individual stranded at Hout Bay may have been at the extreme southern edge of its range. Additional possible stranding records from East London remain unconfirmed, as these specimens may be confused with Feresa attenuata, the Pygmy Killer Whale. Thus, this Hout Bay stranding may be the only record of this species from South Africa (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). The closest other records are sightings from the Mozambique Channel (Kiszka et al. 2006), the Seychelles (Ballance & Pitman 1998), and Tanzania (Peddemors & Ross 1988).

Population trend

Trend

Although, this species has been recorded as relatively common in some portions of its range (Taylor et al. 2008), it has an extralimital distribution into South African waters. Thus, this species is likely to be considerably rare within  the assessment region, and has only been confirmed from one stranding record at Hout Bay. No abundance estimates exist for this species in South African waters.

The following global population estimates are available (Taylor et al. 2008), indicating that they are fairly abundant in some regions: 45,400 (CV = 47%) animals in the eastern tropical Pacific (Wade & Gerrodette 1993); 3,451 (CV = 55%) in the Gulf of Mexico (Mullin & Fulling 2004); 2,947 animals (CV = 111%) in Hawaii (Barlow 2006); and 921 (CV = 80%) in the eastern Sulu Sea, Philippines (Dolar et al. 2006).

Threats

No major threats to this species were identified within the assessment region. However, the threats generally associated with offshore species may also impact Melonheaded Whales, including the loss of prey base due to overfishing, incidental catches in fisheries, loud anthropogenic sounds, and ingestion of plastics. Additionally, climate change is expected to have both direct and indirect effects on prey species, which will indirectly affect the distribution, migration, population structure and reproductive success of cetacean species, and furthermore may enhance their vulnerability to disease, anthropogenic marine pollution and contaminants (Learmonth et al. 2006).

Inconclusive evidence suggests that Melon-headed Whales are vulnerable to high intensity marine noise pollution (Aschettino et al. 2011). For example, in 2004 a group of over 150 Melon-headed Whales uncommonly roamed into the shallow waters of Hanalei Bay (Hawaii); this event coincided with mid-frequency sonar operations conducted during naval training (Southall et al. 2006). As the intensity of marine noise pollution is thought to be increasing within South African waters (Koper & Plön 2012), this potentially represents an emerging threat. Similar to other deep-diving species, ingestion of marine plastic pollution may also represent an emerging threat, as it has been known to cause fatalities in sperm whales (for example, Scott et al. 2001) and similar species.

Uses and trade

This species is not utilised or traded within the assessment region

Conservation

The Melon-headed Whale is listed in Appendix II of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is protected by the Marine Living Resources Act (No. 18 of 1998). Estimates of population size and distribution are needed to determine the status of this species in South African waters. Additionally, research is needed to assess the impacts and trends of potential threats. No specific conservation interventions are necessary at present or can be recommended until further data are available. 

Recommendations for managers and practitioners:
  • Sightings, strandings and bycatch data should be recorded, especially during ship-based surveys aimed at other cetacean species, as well as commercial fisheries and marine tour operators.
Research priorities:
  • It is recommended that population census surveys are undertaken in South African waters to determine abundance estimates and trends.
  • The severity and potential impacts of threats to this species should be investigated.
Encouraged citizen actions:
  • Use information dispensed by the South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) to make good choices when buying fish in shops and restaurants, e.g. wwfsa.mobi, FishMS 0794998795.
  • Save electricity and fuel to mitigate CO2 emissions and, hence, the rate of climate change.
  • Buy local products that have not been shipped.
  • Sightings data from pelagic commercial tourism operators may be particularly valuable.
  • Report any strandings to the relevant local authorities.

References 

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,]
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