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OceanCare

Mediterranean whales and dolphins are in crisis - NGOs join forces to protect cetacean populations in the region

Zurich (ots)

The conservation status of whales and dolphins in
the Mediterranean Sea is of growing concern due to increasing
pressure from human activities. Unknown to most people, about 15
different species of whales and dolphins can be found in the
Mediterranean Sea and eight of them regularly. The situation of three
whale and dolphin species - sperm whale, common dolphin and
bottlenose dolphin - is critical and one - the orca in the Strait of
Gibraltar - is in immediate danger of extinction.
Even common dolphins, once the most abundant species in the
Mediterranean, are now classified as Endangered in the IUCN Red List.
This species has disappeared from the Adriatic Sea due to human
impact and it faces local extinction in the Ionian Sea. "The
Mediterranean is a sad case of fisheries mismanagement. Accidental
death in fishing gear and over-fishing threaten top marine predators
such as dolphins" explains Sigrid Lueber from OceanCare.
"Immediate action is needed, but governments have so far failed to
implement proper conservation measures to give whales and dolphins a
future in the region" says Nicolas Entrup from WDCS, the Whale and
Dolphin Conservation Society.
To respond to political stagnation and to address these problems,
research and conservation organizations have recently joined forces
and created a new and influential network committed to preserving
marine biodiversity and reducing human impact on cetacean
populations. The network, called Cetacean Alliance, aims to develop
synergies and create opportunities for collaboration among
individuals and organizations determined to protect cetacean
populations living in the Mediterranean Sea. The alliance includes
research and conservation NGOs with bases in Austria, Croatia,
Germany, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K,
representing a collective membership of over 100,000 supporters.
Cetacean Alliance has launched a website -
www.cetaceanalliance.org - that aims to disseminate information,
raise awareness, promote marine conservation and ultimately
facilitate the recovery of dolphins and whales living in
Mediterranean waters. The web site features educational materials,
videos, research updates, conservation-oriented information, and tips
for interested students keen to study whales and dolphins.

Contact:

Sigrid Lüber
Ocean Care
Mobile: +41/79/475'26'87
E-Mail: slueber@oceancare.org

Nicolas Entrup
WDCS Germany
Tel.: +49/171/1423-117
E-Mail: nicolas.entrup@wdcs.org

Giovanni Bearzi
Tethys Research Institute
E-Mail: giovanni.bearzi@gmail.com

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