Gujarat's dolphin count tops 680, boosts conservation efforts

Gandhinagar: Gujarat has recorded more than 680 dolphins along its 4,087-km coastline, underscoring the state's growing importance in marine conservation and strengthening its position as one of India's key dolphin habitats.

The latest survey counted 498 dolphins in the Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary area in the southern Gulf of Kutch, between Okha and Navlakhi, spanning 1,384 sq km. Another 168 dolphins were recorded in the northern Gulf of Kutch under the Kutch Circle, covering 1,821 sq km. The survey also spotted 10 dolphins in Bhavnagar's 494 sq km area and four in Morbi's 388 sq km area.

Gujarat's forest and environment minister Arjun Modhwadia said dolphins play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems.


"Some of the top predators among marine mammals, dolphins play an important role in the food chain and help ensure balance in the marine ecosystem," he said.

He credited fishing communities along the coast from Kutch to Bhavnagar for supporting conservation efforts.

"The contribution of fishermen who fish in the sea from Kutch to Bhavnagar is equally important in saving these dolphins. As a result of these collective efforts, dolphins seen along Gujarat's coastline have become a new attraction for tourists from India and abroad," he said.

Modhwadia added that dolphins are protected species and that hunting or harming them is a non-bailable offence.

The growing dolphin population has also boosted marine tourism, with Shivrajpur and Poshitra emerging as popular destinations for dolphin sightings.