Cetacean sightings and acoustic detections in the offshore waters of the Maldives during the northeast monsoon seasons of 2003 and 2004

Despite its central position in the Indian Ocean Sanctuary, little is known about offshore cetacean fauna of Maldives. Here we report survey results gathered by R/V Odyssey Maldives during 2003 and 2004 northeast monsoon seasons, provide data on cetaceans from visual acoustic observations. The was conducted over a period 72 days covered 10,915 track line kilometres. main aim to collect biopsy samples sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) as part global ocean pollutants. Totals 157 sightings 1,461 detections 16 identified species were recorded. Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus), pantropical spotted (Stenella attenuata), spinner longirostris) whale most commonly sighted species. Sperm dolphins particularly abundant southern detection rate 2.5 times higher than eastern Western tropical Pacific, while non-physeterid sighting 1.7 Eastern Pacific 6.7 based other research using same methodology. It concluded that has diverse seemingly community.