Three-dimensional Forensic Scene Investigation of Marine Vessel Interaction in Indo-Pacific Humpbacked Dolphins and Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoises in the Hong Kong Waters (Phase 3) 

The reported number of local cetacean stranding and mortality cases have increased dramatically in recent years in the HK waters, with marine vessel interaction believed as the most commonly identified threat. Accurate documentation and visualization of injury patterns are crucial to determine the mortality as a result of vessel interaction. This project will pay specific focus on three-dimensional forensic scene investigation of marine vessel interaction, by conducting matching analysis on injury on all cetaceans stranded in the HK waters, using 3-D models obtained from virtopsy (internal) and 3DSS datasets ( external) of the carcasses and suspected injury-inflicting instrument. Spatiotemporal models of vessel interaction risk based on the overlap between cetacean population density/habitat use and marine traffic will also be established, which can complement information provided by postmortem investigations and eye-witness reports. This project will achieve useful outcomes to facilitate related government officials from Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Environmental Protection Department, and HK Marine Department to formulate conservation plan, marine vessel route diversion and speed control, and fellow stakeholders including relevant ferry service/shipping companies, academics, green groups and cetacean experts to implement effective management plan for injury prevention for vulnerable local resident cetaceans in our waters.