Bottlenose dolphins in the Sicilian Channel. Increasing knowledge through research activities and People awareness on the marine environment conservation
(
Non-governmental organization (NGO)
)
#OceanAction42510
Description
Associazione Me.Ri.S. aims to increase dolphins protection in the Sicilian Channel through two coordinated activities. The first, is to increase scientific knowledge about bottlenose dolphins inhabiting waters off Agrigento Province. The second, aims to raise awareness of people about the importance to protect cetaceans and their environment, through dissemination and training activity.
Rationale and Objectives:
Cetaceans are top-level predators that regulate the abundance of a wide variety of fishes and squids, they also concentrate and magnify contaminants through bioaccumulation processes. They are considered as sentinel of the health and status of lower trophic levels in the marine ecosystem. Thus, marine mammals are key species for monitoring in marine conservation planning and have been often used to promote designation of reserve areas in many countries. In Europe, several conservation policies refer in part to the marine environment, among which the most significant is the Habitat Directive that requires all European member states to select, designate and protect sites that support species such as the bottlenose dolphin. Conservation of threatened species and management of those exploited requires reliable information about distribution, abundance and trends in abundance. To reach a comprehensive knowledge of dolphins ecology, information on population behavior budget is also necessary.
The main goal is to set down the basis to increase the conservation status of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the Sicilian Channel by improving knowledge, through scientific research, in order to properly manage the area.
This target will be reached through the following specific objectives:
1) calculate a preliminary estimation of the dolphins abundance and movement patterns in order to identify ecological corridors;
2) evaluate the interaction between dolphins feeding behaviors and humans activities with particular regards to professional fishing.
The second activity aims to increase people awareness about the marine environment protection, this goal will be reached through dissemination activities for citizen as well as scientific training activities.
The activities will be carried out in the Sicilian Channel, the strait of sea between Sicily (Italy) and Tunisia. This area plays an important role by dividing the Mediterranean Sea in two major sub-basins, the eastern and western. The complexity of the topography and the circulation scheme makes the Sicilian Channel a highly productive area and a biodiversity hotspot in the Mediterranean Sea.
Methodology:
1)Scientific expedition on bottlenose dolphin (summer 2019). Data about dolphins occurrence, distribution, behaviour, interaction with fishing, and photographic identification will be collected.
2)Data analysis. The population abundance will be estimated through photographic mark-recapture. Bottlenose dolphins have been documented obtaining food from trawling fishing, incidence on population of this opportunistic behavior will be assessed.
3)Bottlenose dolphins expedition training camps (summer 2019). Participants will be involved in all the scientific activities of the researchers. The program includes: biology and cetaceans monitoring techniques lectures, and research activities at sea.
4)Citizen Science campaign. Citizens will be involved in the bottlenose dolphins monitoring with the double purpose to increase knowledge about dolphins presence and raise local people awareness about the importance of marine conservation.
SDGS & Targets
Goal 14
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.1.1
(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.2.1
Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas
14.3
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.3.1
14.4
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.4.1
14.5
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
14.5.1
14.6
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
14.6.1
Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
14.7
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14.7.1
Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
14.a.1
14.b
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.b.1
Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries
14.c
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
14.c.1
Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources
SDG 14 targets covered
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| 14.a | Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries |
Deliverables & Timeline
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
| Title | Progress Status | Submitted |
|---|---|---|
| Partnership Progress 2020-01-21 | On track |
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Ocean Basins
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Contact Information
Jessica Alessi, Dr