Sperm Whale Survey in the Mediterranean Sea 2003
In 2003, IFAW, working in partnership with the Agreement for the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black and Mediterranean Seas (ACCOBAMS) and other researchers in the region, conducted a survey of sperm whales in the Ionian Sea. The survey, conducted from the IFAW research vessel Song of the Whale, will be a pilot study for a wider survey of the whole Mediterranean, planned for 2004/05.
The survey used passive acoustic techniques developed on board Song of
the Whale during the past 15 years of research. The team also took
photographs which can be used to identify individual whales. These will be
contributed to the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sperm whale Catalogue
(NAMSC) which is curated by IFAW.
Over the past decade, IFAW has supported several projects to help the conservation of cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1994, the IFAW Song of the Whale team conducted research in support of the designation of the Ligurian Sea as a whale sanctuary, between Italy, Monaco, France and Corsica.
The Mediterranean Sea has a very interesting and diverse marine mammal fauna, including the endemic and rare Mediterranean monk seal and little known species such as beaked whales. Surprisingly, twenty-one species of whales and dolphins (also known as cetaceans) have been recorded there, of which eight are found regularly, including large baleen whales such as the fin whale; large and medium sized toothed, whales such as the sperm whale, Cuvier’s beaked whale and long finned pilot whale; and, smaller toothed whales, including the Risso’s, bottlenose, striped, and common dolphin.
The sperm whale is the largest toothed whale and is found in the deep basins of the Mediterranean. Sperm whales were once considered to be quite abundant in some parts of the Mediterranean, but large herds are unheard of today. This may be a result of disturbance (including ship strikes and noise pollution) and by-catch (lethal entanglement) in pelagic driftnets.
If the co-existence of marine mammals and humans can be successfully achieved here, it may give hope for solving such problems facing cetaceans on a more global scale.
Over the past decade, IFAW has supported several projects to help the conservation of cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1994, the IFAW Song of the Whale team conducted research in support of the designation of the Ligurian Sea as a whale sanctuary, between Italy, Monaco, France and Corsica.
The Mediterranean Sea has a very interesting and diverse marine mammal fauna, including the endemic and rare Mediterranean monk seal and little known species such as beaked whales. Surprisingly, twenty-one species of whales and dolphins (also known as cetaceans) have been recorded there, of which eight are found regularly, including large baleen whales such as the fin whale; large and medium sized toothed, whales such as the sperm whale, Cuvier’s beaked whale and long finned pilot whale; and, smaller toothed whales, including the Risso’s, bottlenose, striped, and common dolphin.
The sperm whale is the largest toothed whale and is found in the deep basins of the Mediterranean. Sperm whales were once considered to be quite abundant in some parts of the Mediterranean, but large herds are unheard of today. This may be a result of disturbance (including ship strikes and noise pollution) and by-catch (lethal entanglement) in pelagic driftnets.
If the co-existence of marine mammals and humans can be successfully achieved here, it may give hope for solving such problems facing cetaceans on a more global scale.
;)
Sperm whales spend much of their lives under water where they cannot be seen.
