Line of action:

Status:

Execution date:

To improve knowledge of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and its relationship with artisanal and purse seine fishing and with marine protected areas.

Specific objectives of the project

OE1 Determine the positive or negative effects of artisanal gillnet and purse seine fishing gear on bottlenose dolphins in marine protected areas and adjacent waters.
OE2 To determine the possible effects on artisanal gillnet and purse seine fisheries derived from the interaction of bottlenose dolphins in marine protected areas and adjacent waters.
OE3 Propose management measures for artisanal and purse seine fishing and bottlenose dolphins based on the results obtained.
OE4 Involve artisanal and purse seine fishermen in the conservation of these species.
OE5 Raise awareness of marine protected species and areas in the fishing fleet and the local population.

Navigation campaigns will be carried out to determine population parameters of the bottlenose dolphin population present in the study area and its degree of interaction with fishing activities, together with data collection through hydrophones and embarkation in purse seiners to document the interactions that occur in this type of gear, which takes place during the night. Once the information has been obtained and analyzed, meetings will be held with the affected fishermen to propose possible management and mitigation measures that can be carried out.

1. Population parameters of bottlenose dolphins present in the south and southeast of the peninsula have been determined: spatial density estimates, population abundance estimates, social structure.
2. Artisanal fishing activity in the ports of Santa Pola – Tabarca and Cabo de Palos has been monitored to understand at the local level the nature of the interactions produced.
3. Data collection on interaction between the bottlenose dolphin population of this coast and fishing activity: photo-identification of individuals using fisheries as an opportunistic food source, integration with the analysis of social structure.
4. Monitoring of fishing gear using passive acoustic devices to detect the presence/absence of individuals in the nets and identify behavioural patterns.
5. Proposal of measures for the management and mitigationof the impact on bottlenose dolphins in artisanal fishing based on the results obtained.
6. Dissemination and environmental education: website and social networks, volunteering, trainees, dissemination of results and meetings with managing entities, monitoring and direct communication with fishermen and their guilds.

You can see the video summary of the project at the following link: https://youtu.be/K01gdocpBaY