In the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Strait of Gibraltar and the Canary Islands there is a cetacean that can dive to a depth of more than 1,000 meters in search of its most precious food, squid. When sighting its dorsal fin it can be confused with a bottlenose dolphin, but the pilot whale is characterized by having a blunt head, without a snout.

In some places in Andalusia, they are called “sleepers” because during the day they rest on the surface of the water. However, they are capable of reaching great speeds. However, it is not all peace of mind for them. Among its main threats are bycatch in fishing nets, nuisance caused by underwater noise and marine traffic, as well as pollution.

In order to increase knowledge of pilot whales and protect their habitat, the LIFE IP INTEMARES project, coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and the Environment, through the Biodiversity Foundation, has launched various actions to promote their conservation.

Specifically, actions will be carried out that will contribute to the protection of the populations of pilot whale (Grampus griseus),  pilot whale (Globicephala medas) or long-finned pilot whale and pilot whale or short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), very similar to the common pilot whale. The three species are protected within Annex IV of the European Union’s Habitats Directive.

The risso’s dolphin has a characteristic feature that distinguishes it from the others.  As he grows older, his body becomes covered with white scars. It is one of the most unknown species, and little is known about many parameters of its social structure and habits. As there is insufficient data available on the Mediterranean pilot whale subpopulation, it has been classified as “Data Deficient” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.  

To improve their knowledge, within the framework of LIFE IP INTEMARES, actions will be developed that will provide new data on the distribution area, habitat use and the status of the populations of pilot whales and common pilot whales.

Likewise, new protected areas will be proposed that will favor their conservation and properly manage the existing ones. Specifically, one of the habitats of the pilot whale and the common one are the banks and gorges of the Alboran Sea, an area located between the Sites of Community Importance (SCI) South of Almeria-Seco de los Olivos and Alboran Marine Area. The east of the marine area of the east and south of Lanzarote-Fuerteventura, the distribution area of the pilot whale and tropical pilot whale, is also proposed.

In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment is going to prepare the Conservation Plan for Deep-Diving Cetaceans that will include the three aforementioned species of pilot whale. Various actions will also be carried out in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands to avoid possible collisions of cetaceans with boats. Along these lines, an order will be approved for the regulation of nautical-recreational traffic in the Canary Islands in order to avoid impacts and inconvenience for these and other cetaceans. Among the actions, it is also planned to analyse cetacean watching activities in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Canary Islands.   Finally, within the framework of LIFE IP INTEMARES, measures will also be proposed so that underwater noise does not generate negative impacts.

Active participation

LIFE IP INTEMARES, the largest marine environment conservation project in Europe, aims to achieve a consolidated network of marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network, managed effectively, with the active participation of the sectors involved and with research as basic tools for decision-making. It is coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and the Environment, through the Biodiversity Foundation, which also acts as a partner through the General Directorate of Sustainability of the Coast and the Sea.

The Spanish Institute of Oceanography, WWF-Spain, SEO/BirdLife and the Spanish Fisheries Confederation participate as partners. It has the financial contribution of the European Union’s LIFE Programme, as well as the European Social Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, among other sources of funding.