The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute currently undertakes research activities into several large marine vertebrates along the Galician coast (North-western Spain). These waters are among the most productive in the world and are characterized by high biodiversity, productive fisheries and important aquaculture activities, all supported by the nutrient input due to coastal upwelling events.

 

The incredible diversity of marine biodiversity in Galician waters allows the BDRI team to have several ongoing research projects focused on the study of the ecology and behaviour of marine mammals (cetaceans and otters), marine birds, turtles, sharks, and other fish species.

 

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

All cetacean species are listed on Annex IV of the European Union’s Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) as in need of strict protection. It requires regular assessments of the conservation status of all species that cover abundance, distribution and the pressures and threats experienced. In addition, bottlenose dolphin and harbour porpoise are listed on the Directive’s Annex II as species whose conservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Therefore, understanding the structure of any bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises’ population and their relationships with other populations should be a pre-requisite to establishing appropriate management units and define future Special Areas of Conservation as required by the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/CEE).

Cetaceans are protected by the Spanish government (regulation 1727/2007). It is forbidden to approach cetaceans within a 60 meter’s radius and it is forbidden to swim with cetaceans. The BDRI has a research permit delivered by the Spanish government in order to approach and study cetaceans.

 

 

 

Cetaceans

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).

 

 

Marine birds

Galicia is home to hundreds of species of birds, either permanently or seasonally and include several species of marine birds, such as Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis), Black-head gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Mediterranean gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus), Great black-backed gull (Larus marinus), Lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus), Sabine's gull (Xema sabini), European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Great cormoran (Phalacrocorax carbo), Common tern (Sterna hirundo), Sandwich tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis), Northern gannet (Morus bassanus), Razorbill (Alca torda), Common guillemot (Uria aalge), Great skua (Stercorarius skua), Parasitic jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus), Pomarine jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus), Cory's shearwater (Calonectris borealis), Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus), Yelkouan shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan), Sooty shearwater (Ardenna grisea), Great shearwater (Puffinus gravis), Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus), European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus), Wilson's storm petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), Common scoter (Melanitta nigra), Northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), little auks (Alle alle).

 

Other bird species such as wading birds can be seen in O Grove, such as oyster-catchers, turn-stones, dunlins, golden plovers, curlews, Kentish plovers and sandpipers. In addition, different species of ducks, herons, spoonbills, little egrets, divers or scoters, coming from the north of Europe, are also present in this area.

 

 

Other species

In Galicia our team also studies the ecology and behaviour of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) along the shoreline of the Ría de Arousa and the distribution of other species of marine megafauna such as the Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), blue shark (Prionace glauca), common eagle ray (Myliobatis aquila), and sun fish (Mola mola).

 

 

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