GTCAT/ GTCOT

In the framework of the "Initiative for the sustainable development of the Alboran Sea" promoted by the Mediterranean Cooperation Centre of the IUCN this is the coordination platform of the GTCAT GTCOT, the Working Group for Cetaceans, Sea Birds and Sea Turtles. The working group for cetaceans, sea birds and sea turtles of the Alboran Sea is a networking initiative for a coherent regional approach to the management and monitoring of potential risks on pelagic mega fauna.

This interdisciplinary platform will allow the implementation of the European Marine Strategy (Habitat Directive, European Union´s Common Fisheries Policy, etc) in Spain through research, management, capacity building and public awareness actions promoting actively not only regional strategies for the marine biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean bio geographic area (Barcelona Convection, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO), International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), General Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean (GCFM)) but also international cooperation (Mediterranean Cooperation Centre of the IUCN and ACCOBAMS).

Taking advantage of the positive experiences in monitoring programs carried out by ALNITAK since 1991 related with these issues in the Alboran Sea, this project represent a pilot scheme for the development of innovative and exportable tools for getting the logistic and economical challenge of marine biodiversity conservation. This project is funded by"Fundacion Biodiversidad" and will take 27 months (October 2008 – December 2010).

Oceanic scope:

The species we are dealing with are extremely mobile. A"resident" pod of dolphins can travel close to 100 nautical miles in one day. A migrating whale can travel over 120 . This mapping of a loggerhead turtle´s movement across the Atlantic clearly highlights the need of international scope species conservation plans.

The following links are therefore of special interest with regards to the conservation of cetaceans, seabirds and sea turtles present in the Alboran Sea.