Mediterranean Whale survey indicates declining numbers

17/08/2008 07:04:19 August 2008. It's an impressive sight watching a twenty metre long fin whale break the ocean surface. Fin whales are rare and elusive animals but one of the best places to observe them is here in the Pelagos Sanctuary. It is a marine protected area in the western Mediterranean that stretches between Corsica, the south of mainland France and northern Italy.

Collaborating with environmental organisation Greenpeace, a group of Italian researchers is carrying out a survey of the whale and dolphin populations in the region. Simone Panigada, a whale scientist from the Tethys Institute in Milan, is keen to find out how the cetaceans are doing.

Last surveyed in 1992
"The preceding survey carried out in this area took place in 1992. And it is very important to do this again to identify possible trends in the population and to find out whether the numbers are decreasing, stable or increasing" says Panigada.

The current survey follows a number of transects through the area with different observer teams constantly monitoring the ocean surface for dolphins
and whales.

Fin whales most abundant large species
Fin whales are the most abundant of the large whales in the area which is home to seven further species of whales and dolphins. The Pelagos Sanctuary attracts all these cetaceans because the region is very rich in nutrients. This supports an ecosystem with thriving algae and plankton which in turns draws in the whales.

Threats - Heavy shipping
But almost as diverse as the cetacean population are the threats facing these animals in the Pelagos Sanctuary. Heavy ship traffic is among the main risks for the larger whales resulting in severe under water noise pollution as well as ship strikes. Exact casualty numbers from such collisions, however, remain unclear.

Illegal driftnets
"Another big problem is the fishing industry. The continued use of large driftnets - even though they have been banned by the European Commission - results in bycatch of fin whales but also primarily sperm whales. And then there is the presence of contaminants in the animals which has negative effects on their immune system."

In order to get some indication of the level of pollutants in the sea, the research team is also taking water samples. Alessandro Gianni, an oceans campaigner with Greenpeace hopes the scientific information gathered on this survey will contribute towards more strict protection measures for the Pelagos Sanctuary.

Natural gas terminal
Recently, Greenpeace successfully filed a complaint against the plans to construct a liquid natural gas terminal inside the sanctuary.

"We know this will be a temporary victory because certainly the state and the industry will try to hold on to this authorisation. But for the moment we have stopped this project", says Alessandro Gianni.

Global network of marine reserves
For Greenpeace the current science work onboard its ship tour forms part of a worldwide campaign to set up a global network of marine reserves. These strictly protected areas - in which all harmful use of the oceans should be prohibited - are needed to restore the health of the world's oceans as well to safeguard global fisheries. A more strictly protected Pelagos Sanctuary would be an important step and provide a crucial example for the region.

"The sanctuary is an important precedent. It's the only protected area in the high seas and it has to be a good precedent for other areas in the Mediterranean. It cannot remain a paper park. It has to be truly protected", adds Gianni.

Low number of sightings
With the survey data still awaiting proper analysis, the low number of sightings so far could confirm fears that the number of cetaceans in the area has decreased in comparison to the last survey sixteen years ago.

For the whales of the Pelagos Sanctuary there is no time for protection like the present.