The different species of cetaceans that inhabit the waters of the Balearic Islands are the object of study of the ESTEMAR II project, an initiative of the Tursiops Association that has the support of the Biodiversity Foundation through its 2015 call for grants.

In the first phase of this project, a fractional study area was defined that allowed data to be obtained for the design of spatiotemporal marine reserve areas. ESTEMAR II focuses on the year-on-year certification of the measures set in the first phase, based on the ratification of the data obtained.

Thus, the project seeks to achieve an estimate of the abundance of cetacean species in Balearic waters to determine spatiotemporal patterns in those waters and their subsequent application to develop a proposal for the creation of a marine protected area and the design of its management.

Thanks to the simultaneous use of acoustic and visual systems to carry out a cetacean census, it is expected to obtain an abundance estimate for each of the main species present in the study area. The analysis of these estimates together with those obtained in 2015 will allow the preparation of a proposal for the creation of a marine protected area and the design of its management.

The results that are expected to be achieved with the initiative are the preparation of a list of species identified in the area, in addition to estimates of abundance of the main species and estimates of abundance by stratum.

To obtain the information, the technicians will carry out visual and acoustic censuses of cetacean populations, as well as population estimates by areas and periods, throughout different campaigns during 2016.