International Workshop Brings Together Scientists and Governments to Develop the Conservation and Management Plan for Lahille's Dolphin

From March 22 to 24, 2024, Cassino Beach in Rio Grande hosted an international event of great importance for the conservation of Lahille's dolphin – an iconic species of the Atlantic coast of South America that is endangered due to human activities. The workshop, organized by Kaosa (a non-profit organization), gathered over 40 experts, including scientists, conservationists, NGO representatives, and government officials from the three countries home to the remaining populations of Lahille's dolphin: Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.

The event began with a series of comprehensive presentations that provided an in-depth overview of the current state of Lahille's dolphin populations and the main challenges faced by the species, such as habitat loss, marine pollution, and incidental capture in fishing nets. Subsequently, participants engaged in a collaborative effort to draft the Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for Lahille's dolphin. The plenary sessions identified key knowledge gaps, discussed threat mitigation strategies, population monitoring measures, and ways to strengthen conservation legislation and policies in the three countries.

A highlight of the workshop was the participation of veterinarians Cynthia Smith and Forrest Gomez from the National Marine Mammal Foundation, California, who shared their expertise on dolphin health studies in the wild. Additionally, participants recognized the importance of integrating scientific knowledge with traditional wisdom, emphasizing the need to involve local communities in conservation efforts.