Marine mammal research in India - a review and critique of the methods

Indian research publications on marine mammals, in most cases, are generally mediocre and misleading. Published information ranges from reports of occasional stranding to descriptions of fishery interactions. Due to non-existence of a comprehensive research programme and adequately trained research teams in India, information available is fragmentary and often of dubious scientific quality. Lack of understanding of the biology of most of the species and absence of quantitative data on the anthropogenic impacts are serious impediments to the conservation of marine mammals in India. This review attempts to identify the major gaps and provides recommendations in improving the research methodology for understanding the status of marine mammals and their conservation.