The Grampus project contributes to improving the conservation status of pilot whale populations in the western Mediterranean.

The Grampus project aimed to contribute to improving the conservation status of pilot whale populations in the western Mediterranean. To this end, Submon, the executing entity, has obtained information on this cetacean in the Levantine-Balearic demarcation and has increased awareness in the area, making known the status of the populations of this species in the underwater canyons off the Catalan coast.

Project activities include:

• To study the populations of pilot whales in the submarine canyons of Maresme and Palamós.
• Design research with the “distancesampling” method.
• Estimate the abundance of this species and its seasonality.
• Launch field campaigns to see and hear these animals in summer and winter.
• Joint work with other research groups (comparison of catalogues, consultation of information, etc.).
• Use of citizen platforms to obtain information about the species (Facebook, Twitter, sea observers’ website…).

After the project is carried out, the entity is able to recommend the inclusion of the species as “vulnerable” in the National Catalog of Threatened Species. The study area is also defined as an area of high cetacean frequency. Common causes of regression of pilot whale populations have also been identified.

In addition, the reinforcement of citizen participation, through citizen science, has been extremely useful in the project, since it has allowed to obtain additional information, which would otherwise be difficult to acquire. 24 sightings have been reported through this modality: 14 sightings sent through the network of volunteer skippers, 5 sightings sent by fishermen and 5 sightings sent through the Facebook platform “Dofins metropolitans”.