TRAMUNTANA DOLFIN PROJECT. Tramuntana dolphins: involving the fishing sector in the conservation of the bottlenose dolphin. Towards a development of the territory in the Natura 2000 Network area of the Cañón de Creus

Pleamar program

Description:

The project aims to promote the conservation and improvement of the marine ecosystems of the Creus Canyon area and the Western Submarine Canyon System of the Gulf of Lion, in collaboration with the fishing sector, and through dissemination, awareness and participation, with the aim of conserving the population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).), improving fishing activity in the area while enhancing the value of a territory, which has unique natural, cultural and landscape values.

With the involvement of the fishing sector in the conservation of marine ecosystems, through the creation of governance and participation spaces, its involvement in the conservation of bottlenose dolphins and other cetaceans and collaboration with other sectors, such as tourism, catering or consumption, the aim is to promote territorial development, giving value not only to marine ecosystems, but also to the fishery product of a sector deeply established in the area, which coexists with a population of a highly threatened and protected species such as the bottlenose dolphin, in an area that is mostly part of a Natura 2000 Network Area. A study of the bottlenose dolphin population in the area of the Creus canyon and adjacent waters will be carried out, involving fishermen from the brotherhoods of the municipalities in the area (from Roses to Llançà), with whom previous contact has already been established during 2017.

During the project, the aim is to create spaces for participation with fishermen, guilds and local associations to involve them in the conservation of the bottlenose dolphin, an endangered species that interacts directly with fishing activity in the area (Gazo et. al 2012). The aim is to start a joint work campaign with the fishing sector to achieve the revaluation of a fishing resource, fished in an area where there is still a stable population of dolphins (“Dolphin safe”), in this way it helps to increase the competitiveness of the fishing sector and the conservation of the species. The main interest is to achieve a consensus with the sector or part of the sector in the implementation of good practices that reduce or minimize the impact on the cetacean populations of the area, previously evaluating this interaction together.

Meetings, talks, personal interviews and an outreach and awareness campaign will also be carried out for fishermen with informative material to involve them in obtaining measures that are easily applicable on a voluntary basis and their implementation will begin in the form of a pilot test. A project website will also be created. In addition, a cetacean census campaign will be carried out to evaluate the status of the population and the level of fishing interaction. This proposal focuses on the development of both activities.

See the project.

Project

Line of action:

Marine ecosystems

Status:

Finalizado

Execution date:

2019

Objectives

General objective:

To promote the conservation and improvement of marine ecosystems and fishery resources in the marine area of the Cañón de Creus.

Specific objectives:

1. Involve the fishing sector in the sustainability of the marine environment, the fishing resource and cetaceans.

2. To evaluate the status of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population in the area

3. Involve and raise awareness among the local population about the importance of supporting a sustainable fishing resource that is compatible with the viability of species such as cetaceans, among others.

Results

In the development of the project, the involvement of both the fishing and commercial sectors has been achieved. Collaboration agreements have been signed with the two guilds with the largest trawl fleet in the area: Roses and Llançà, establishing alliances to conserve the marine ecosystem. Work has been done to create spaces for governance and participation through meetings at the beginning and end of the project with different actors in the area. In this way, a list of good practices has been agreed upon, which is already applicable today. Although more data is needed to establish a pattern of behavior, some trends have been observed that facilitate the implementation of good practices. Likewise, the incorporation of cameras into the trawls to see underwater behavior continues.

The project has helped to determine that fishing interaction is established in the dolphin population, which is already accustomed to living together and feeding on trawl nets. A total of 121 warnings of cetacean sightings by fishermen have been recorded, of which more than 60 were dolphins following trawls. The most sighted species was the bottlenose dolphin, followed by the striped dolphin. In 78% of these sightings, the dolphins were following their net, evidencing and confirming a high level of interaction and showing that the involvement of the trawling sector is essential.

For the first time, 14 fishmongers in the area have joined, which have obtained their distinction, assuming their share of co-responsibility in the promotion of the fishing resource of the area. Collaboration agreements have been signed and informative brochures have been distributed with recipes for species of low commercial value or less known from the area.

In the scientific campaign, the interaction of the bottlenose dolphin has been studied, in collaboration with the fishermen (who provide the data, notify the scientific vessel and provide the catch sheets). Thus, it has been possible to identify the area of Cap de Creus as an area of great importance for the bottlenose dolphin population, with a stable population, probably resident. A preliminary abundance estimate of 154 animals and a breeding area for the species has been made. We also highlight the follow-up campaign, in which 44 volunteers have participated, of which 29 had previous training and participated more than one day in the field trips.

The information of the project and its results was shared with the public through the IV conference of presentation of studies of the Natural Park of Cap de Creus, a press release at the beginning of the project, participation in ONE world congress of marine mammals and the website of the Pleamar Program.

It is concluded that the presence of a stable population of bottlenose dolphins in the area highlights its ecological importance, as well as the need to develop correct management for professional and recreational activities. In this sense, the involvement of the fishing sector in the conservation of the marine environment shows a great advance in the collaboration between scientists and fishermen, necessary and basic for the research, conservation and sustainable development of a territory with a fishing tradition. On the other hand, in relation to awareness-raising actions, the presence of a figure of protection of the area, such as the Cap de Creus Natural Park, stands out. Therefore, the promotion of responsible and local consumption, valuing traditional activities and small businesses, while conserving marine biodiversity, is an excellent strategy to follow in the short and long term.

TRAMUNTANA DOLFIN PROJECT. Tramuntana dolphins: involving the fishing sector in the conservation of the bottlenose dolphin. Towards a development of the territory in the Natura 2000 Network area of the Cañón de Creus

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