PRODUCTION INFORMATION

The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI has been working with many TV channels and host to production companies in the last 20 years. Attracted by our world-class scientific research, filming opportunities and experienced staff, production companies are offered a unique shooting experience.

 

Our field leading marine research encompasses a wide variety of marine species (dolphins, whales, porpoises, otters, marine birds, sharks) and topics (Ecology, Behaviour, Communication, Conservation). Our study area (Galicia, NW Spain) is among the most productive oceanic regions in the world characterized by high biodiversity, productive fisheries and important aquaculture activities, all supported by the nutrient input due to coastal upwelling events. This provides an exceptional opportunity to cover a number of different environments, ecosystems and species in a short time.

 

​We have welcomed a variety of international film crews and appeared on television in numerous countries. Videos filmed at the station have been aired on ARTE, TVE, RAI1, RAI2, RAI3, TVG, ZDF, Euronews, and many more.

 

With state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, BDRI researchers participate in multiple research projects. Research activities at the BDRI are  a combination of boat-based surveys on-board our two research vessels, land-based surveys, laboratory work (photo-identification, GIS, bioacoustics, diet analysis, diving behaviour, video analysis, database work, data transcription etc), and strandings (response, rescue, necropsy, and data collection).

 

More than 20 species of cetaceans have been recorded in Galician waters, the most abundant in the coastal rías are bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). Other species present in the area include Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus), striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas), killer whales (Orcinus orca), sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), beaked whales (3 species), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis), fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), and blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus). We also find Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in rivers and along the shoreline of Galician rías. Galicia is home to hundreds of species of birds, either permanently or seasonally and include several species of seagulls, cormorants, shags, gannets, auks, shearwaters, petrels, skuas, terns, herons, loons, and many more.

 

A variety of conservation issues affect the marine life in Galician waters, many of which are related to human activity, such as the interaction with fisheries, (a significant cause of mortality), overfishing, aquaculture activities, oil spills, pollution, the effects of noise from shipping, military activity and tourism. The degree of impact of any human activity, varies considerably between different species and depends on their ecology, distribution and abundance.

 

Our research primarily focuses on marine top predators, more particularly on marine mammals and marine birds, which is our principal area of expertise. Our staff of scientists is incredibly experienced and skilled in the research techniques we employ.

 

Filming at BDRI requires a fee which is used to off-set the cost of training, use of research equipment, facilities and research vessels, and other expenses. The fee reflects the real world costs and expenses that go into making the research program possible.

 

✓ For information about availability and fees, feel free to contact: bruno@thebdri.com

Feel free to send us an e-mail to: info@thebdri.com for any further information about our programs.

 

 

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