HuDoNet's Action Plan Draws A Roadmap for Humpback Dolphin Conservation

The Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin Conservation Network (HuDoNet) has launched a new, collaborative Action Plan to galvanise conservation of the Endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin across its range.

A humpback dolphin launches through the surf at Plettenberg Bay, South Africa © Gwen Penry

The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Its populations are small and declining - facing mounting threats from coastal development, fisheries bycatch, pollution, and habitat degradation. Despite decades of research in some regions, major gaps in data, coordination, and resources persist across much of the species’ range.

In response, HuDoNet has produced its Network Action Plan, a short- to medium-term roadmap designed to turn shared concern into coordinated action. Developed over more than a year through a structured conservation-planning process, the plan reflects collective thinking of HuDoNet, which includes nearly 100 experts working across 18 countries in the western Indian Ocean region, Red Sea and Arabian/Persian Gulf. Members worked through five thematic Working Groups — Biology; Threats & Solutions; People; Policy; and Network Success — to identify priority gaps, opportunities, and feasible actions.

The result is 13 Priority Actions that HuDoNet aims to implement over the next few years. These range from rapid assessments in data-poor countries and coordinated analyses of existing datasets, to mapping bycatch risk hotspots, strengthening community-based conservation approaches, improving policy integration, and securing long-term funding for sustained collaboration.

HuDoNet’s Action Plan positions the network to generate fit-for-purpose data, better support range states, and amplify conservation impact by working across disciplines, institutions, and borders. It captures what can be realistically achieved in the near term, while laying the groundwork for a future Conservation Action Plan for the species.

The full Network Action Plan is available at HuDoNet's Action Plan.

This work was made possible through the support of EACOP, Tshwane University of Technology, University of Pretoria, Zayed University, and the University of St Andrews.