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Cetacean census begins between Ischia and Procida

2021-01-16T16:41:06.614Z


The monitoring trips will take place from January to April on board Jean Gab, the cutter of Oceanomare Delphis (ANSA)


The winter monitoring of cetaceans in the Marine Protected Area (Amp) "Regno di Nettuno" takes place between Ischia and Procida.

The objective is to distinguish the distribution of cetaceans during the cold months and to ensure a systematic knowledge of the species present in the waters of the protected area.

The project is promoted by the Amp with Oceanomare Delphis.

In the study area there are seven species of cetaceans;

among these, sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) described as "threatened" by the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

"As in the whole Mediterranean - explain the Amp - the species present in these waters are subject to anthropogenic pressures that impact these animals both at the level of individuals and populations. For individuals, the dangers are mainly represented by accidental catches in fishing gears and accidental collisions with boats, while the impact on populations is mainly caused by environmental degradation.

Furthermore, the study area is subject to a high concentration of commercial and pleasure maritime traffic which, in addition to exponentially increasing the risk of collisions with individuals, causes acoustic disturbance to the sophisticated apparatus for producing and receiving the sounds of which cetaceans are gifted with ".

The monitoring outings will take place from January to April on board Jean Gab, the Oceanomare Delphis cutter equipped for cetacean research.

In addition to visual monitoring and photo-identification of the animals, the researchers on board will use a towed hydrophone system capable of picking up the vocalizations of the animals present in the area.

"Having such charismatic and environmentally important mammals in our waters is a real privilege. - underlines Antonino Miccio, director of the Amp Regno di Nettuno - to protect them and spread this biodiversity, which is an undeniable added value for our territories, are two precise priorities for our marine protected area ".

"The winter monitoring campaign of cetaceans in the Kingdom of Neptune will add important and fundamental information useful for the best protection and safeguarding of the species present", adds Barbara Mussi, president of Oceanomare Delphis.

Oceanomare Delphis Onlus has been carrying out surveys and censuses on cetaceans in the waters of the Flegrean islands for 30 years in the spring-autumn period;

thanks to the data collected and then published, in 2017 the Marine mammal protected areas (Imma) task force of the ICC recognized the waters of Ischia and Ventotene as Important Imma with common dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, and fin whale, Balaenopteraphysalus, as key species.

The same designation was given to the Campanian and Pontine archipelagos with sperm whale, Physetermacrocephalus, as key species.

During the monitoring carried out by Oceanomare Delphis Onlus in the area under study, 94 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), 97 sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), 207 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and 48 rots (Grampus griseus) have been photo-identified so far.

Of course, the individuals present in the waters of the Kingdom of Neptune are many more: the sightings reported by boaters and of which one is not in possession of photographic material must also be considered.

The presence of other species has also been documented including striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), pilot whale (Globicephala melas), fin whale (Balaenoptera phisalus) and zifio (Ziphius cavirostris), humpback and pseudorca.   

Source: ansa

All life articles on 2021-01-16

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