<![CDATA[Penelitian dilakukan pada tahun 2004 - 2006 di Danau Semayang dan Muara Kaman (bagian dari Sungai Mahakam), Kalimantan Timur, melalui survei lapangan dan wawancara langsung dengan nelayan, masyarakat, dan Dinas Perikanan, Dinas Perlindungan Hutan dan Pelestarian Alam. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui penyebaran secara spasial, status pemanfaatan, dan upaya konservasi pesut Mahakam (Orcaella brevirostris). Hasil pengamatan menunjukkan bahwa distribusi pesut Mahakam secara spasial terdapat di Muara Kaman, Muara Sungai Pela Kecil, muara Sungai Pela Besar, Danau Semayang, dan Danau Melintang. Pada saat ini, pesut Mahakam di Sungai Mahakam digunakan sebagai wisata air bagi turis domestik maupun luar negeri. Upaya konservasi pesut Mahakan dapat dilakukan melalui perlindungan habitat dari pencemaran dan pendangkalan, perlindungan suaka perikanan yang berfungsi untuk penyedia makanan alami serta meningkatkan peran aktif masyarakat agar turut menjaga kelestarian pesut. This study was conducted during 2004 to 2006 in Semayang and Melintang Lakes, Mahakam segment around Muara Kaman River of East Kalimantan, through field survey methods, and directly interview to respective respondens of fishers, local people, Fisheries Regency Departement and Forest Protection and Natural Resources Conservation. The objective of the study was to elucidate the distribution spasial, utilization status, and conservation effort of freshwater dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris). Results show that the spasial distributions of freshwater dolphin were found in Kaman, Pela Kecil, Bank of Pela Besar Rivers, Semayang, and Melintang Lakes. Freshwater dolphines was used as echotourism for local and foreign tourisms. There are some efforts to conserve of freshwater dolphin in the East Kalimantan, namely habitat protection from pollution and sedimentation, fisheries area protection for providing natural food and to increase local people role in conserving the existence of these animals.]]>
