Progress report for
Bottlenose dolphins in the Sicilian Channel. Increasing knowledge through research activities and People awareness on the marine environment conservation
Achievement at a glance
Dolphins conservation was improved achieving two goals: increasing scientific knowledge about bottlenose dolphins inhabiting waters off Agrigento Province, raising people awareness about the importance to protect cetaceans and their environment. The first was achieved carrying out research expeditions from 21 June to 14 October 2019. Forty daily surveys were conducted and an area of 350 square nautical miles was covered by random sampling design resulting in 33 pods of dolphins spotted. During 25 sightings the pod was interacting with fishing activities. Previously recorded sighting points were analyzed to generate spatial predictions of bottlenose dolphins occurrence along Agrigento’s coast in the Sicilian Channel (Mediterranean Sea). During the 2016 and 2018 summer seasons, 60 pods of bottlenose dolphins were sighted, 48 of this feeding behind fisheries boats. To run the model four predictive variables were considered: average depth, bottom slope, distance from the shoreline, and the number of professional fishing boats. The proximity to the coast was the variable that best predicts dolphins distribution, followed by the average depth, the slope of the sea bottom and lastly the number of fishing boats. According to the model, this species prefers water from 3 to 7 nautical miles far from the shoreline with depth ranged from 30 to 100 m. Despite the strong interaction with fisheries, it contributes to the model for just 0.2%, even if a reduction in the probability of dolphins presence results when the numbers of fishing boat increase. This study provides an example of a presence-only habitat model used to inform the management of a species for which habitat preferences are poorly understood. The second goal was achieved conducting: 2 beach cleaning with young people and children, 7 training camps on “Bottlenose dolphins expedition”, 6 Citizen Science campaign, 5 dissemination events, 1 training course for fishermen in Lampedusa Island.Challenges faced in implementation
The biggest challenge was to gain fund to conduct research activities. We conducted the research expedition thanks to the charitable donations received by citizens. For future research activities it would be desirable that funds will be committed by the government agencies.Beneficiaries
Bottlenose dolphins, scientific community, university students, young people and children, citizen, artisanal fishermen