UPDATE from MYANMAR on "How tourism & fishing help save Irrawaddy dolphins"

The Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project (LIDP) is a social business supporting the protection of Irrawaddy dolphins in Myanmar’s Ayeyawaddy Dolphin Protected Area. LIDP is developing a model for dolphin conservation through community-based ecotourism. Co-founder Paul Eshoo wrote this great “Good Tourism” Insight.

UPDATE, June 2021: Given the political situation in Myanmar and COVID-19 “GT” was concerned about the fate of LIDP. Prompted by “GT”, Mr Eshoo offered the following update to his January 2021 “GT” Insight:

There are now less than 80 Irrawaddy dolphins left in the river. And there are now less than 100 fishermen who are skilled in the traditional practice of co-operative fishing, which requires both dolphins and fishermen to use signals and calls to communicate with each other in their mutual pursuit of fish.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the compounding issues of recent political instability, the Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project’s tours have remained closed since March 2020. This has resulted in a significant economic impact on the families who normally rely on the project for supplemental income from tourism. The project has, however, continued to support conservation activities as best as the COVID-19 lockdowns and political shutdowns have allowed. These include ... For the full update and the insightful original "GT" Insight from January 2020, please visit https://goodtourismblog.com/2020/01/how-tourism-fishing-are-helping-to-save-irrawaddy-dolphins-in-myanmar/