STATUS OF THE BOTTLE-NOSED-DOLPHIN, TURSIOPS-TRUNCATUS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CANADA

The Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, is distributed worldwide i n warm temperate and tropical waters. This report reviews the general biology, worldwide status and management of this species, with special reference to its status in Canadian waters. More is known about the b iology of the Bottlenose Dolphin than perhaps any other cetacean. No e stimates of worldwide population size exist, although there are numero us estimates for specific regions. Two forms are recognized, coastal a nd offshore; they are distinguishable through a wide variety of charac teristics. The species is not threatened, although the population in t he Black Sea is currently considered at risk. In some areas, Bottlenos e Dolphins are taken deliberately in drive fisheries, and they are cau ght incidentally in fishing operations worldwide. Levels of pollutants recorded in this species are among the highest recorded from any ceta cean. The Bottlenose Dolphin is rare in Canadian waters, where it is a t the northern limits of its range. Twenty-two records from eastern Ca nada, representing only 11 occurrences, are presented. Future records from the Canadian east coast may be less frequent, as an apparently na tural die-off in the population off the north east coast of the U.S. i n 1987-1988 may have resulted in a population reduction of over 50% We know of no confirmed records from western Canada, although a stray an imal from the inshore waters of Washington State has recently been rec orded, and there are historical records from an Indian midden from the outer Washington coast. A single unconfirmed record from offshore Bri tish Columbia waters exists.