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The project developed by the entity aims to contribute to the conservation of the bottlenose dolphin, a protected species, included in the CEEA in the category of “vulnerable”, and in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive, which makes it a species of special interest, whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation. and in kind of community interest, since stricter protection is sought. Its lines of action are complementary to the objectives of LIFE IP-PAF-INTEMARES, HIGHLIGHTING THE CONSIDERATION OF THE MARINE AREAS OF THE Natura 2000 Network as key elements for conservation and the provision of information through research. The information generated and the results obtained with the implementation of this project will be of great interest to the competent authorities in the field.

• To improve the knowledge about the social structure and habitat use of the Tursiops truncatus-Galicia Sur Management Unit.

• To evaluate and promote the Natura 2000 Network marine areas as important elements for the conservation of the bottlenose dolphin.

Some of the actions that have been developed within the framework of the project are:

• Updating of the historical record of photographs of marine mammals, in this case, bottlenose dolphins, review and preparation of an updated catalogue and manual of good navigation practices.
• Fine-tuning and carrying out of scientific sampling from Tursiops 2018-19 vessel in marine areas Natura 2000 Network Southern Galicia.
• Determination of some aspects of the social structure, paying special attention to two of them: the determination of group sizes, and the identification of breeding females.
• Determination of habitat use and degree of residence of individuals
• Collection, cataloguing of sighting records. Also creation and updating of sightings database.
• Integration and processing of sighting information in geographic information systems (GIS) in order to have them georeferenced. Once integrated into the geographic information system, the entity designed a series of cartographic outputs of the different maps obtained with the sampling points and sightings.
• Evaluation of the marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network as elements for the conservation of the species and proposal of new areas to promote its conservation.
• Dissemination of the project and invitation to social participation, organization of presentation days and volunteering to carry out scientific sampling from boats. Design and editing of materials.

This initiative, which has been developed by the CEMMA entity (Coordinator for the Study of Marine Mammals), has the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, has been carried out in five Natura 2000 Network areas of the Vigo estuary and in nearby waters, Enseada de San Simón Special Conservation Area. Costa da Vela Special Conservation Area, Illas Cíes Special Conservation Area, Illas Estelas Special Conservation Area and Rías Baixas Marine Space Special Protection Area for Birds.

This project is part of the BM1 Action Programme referring to the support of knowledge and innovation on marine and coastal biodiversity and updating of the inventories of habitats and species of the marine Natura 2000 Network. Among his main actions are; the improvement of knowledge about the social structure and habitat use of the Tursiops truncatus-Galicia Sur Management Unit, the evaluation and promotion of the Natura 2000 Network marine areas as important elements for the conservation of the Tursiops truncatus-Galicia Sur UG and the promotion of social participation as a fundamental tool for the conservation of protected areas and threatened species.

After presenting the main actions of the research, it should be noted that thanks to the study of the habitats and spaces used by the species, and the evaluation of the use of the Natura 2000 Network, the declaration of a conservation area for the species in the Vigo estuary, with an area of 4,690 hectares, has been proposed.

In line with action dedicated to social participation, TurGaSur has enjoyed a great reception by volunteers of various profiles and ages, receiving more than 100 applications and ultimately resulting in the creation of an environmental volunteering group made up of 119 people. A volunteer guide has also been prepared detailing the recommendations and operational rules on board the volunteers’ boats.

This citizen participation has made sampling possible and has allowed the performance of a photo-identification analysis, as well as other monitoring techniques of marine mammals, in this case bottlenose dolphins. Finally, a total of 20 samplings have been carried out in the Ría de Vigo, in which 54 sightings of the species have been achieved, taking more than 27,700 photographs.

These samplings have made it possible to expand the CEMMA database by compiling 108,000 photographs of dorsal fins taken in Galicia in the last 20 years. These images have been reviewed and catalogued and have allowed the creation of a database of sightings containing 4,924 records.

Another result of this initiative has been the preparation of a photo-identification catalogue, which includes the 150 specimens of bottlenose dolphin that have a higher degree of residence in the Rías Baixas. Finally, the study has also allowed the identification of a group of 31 resident breeding females .