A summary of the results of the work done in this regard were presenten at the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Comission in Anchorage, Alaska, June 2007:

Ana Tejedor (1), Ricardo Sagarminaga (2,4), Ana Cañadas (2,4), Renaud de Stephanis (3,4) and Javier Pantoja (5)

(1) UNESCO Chair for the Environment. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Madrid. Spain
(2) ALNITAK. Madrid. Spain
(3) CIRCE. Algeciras. Spain
(4) SEC - SOciedad Española de Cetáceos. Spain
(5) MINISTERIO DE MEDIO AMBIENTE. Madrid. Spain

NOTICE TO MARINERS TO PROTECT CETACEANS FROM THE RISK OF SHIP COLLISIONS IN THE STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR (SPAIN).

The Strait of Gibraltar is a place highly transited by commercial and passenger vessels, on both the East-West and North-South and axes. At the same time it is an area with an important presence and abundance of cetaceans, mostly for sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), present between March and July every year.

The Spanish Ministries of Environment and Public Works have been working together in order to reduce the impact of ship strikes on cetaceans in the Strait of Gibraltar, and a Notice to Mariners has been published on January 2007 by the “Instituto Hidrográfico de la Marina” (Navy Hydrographical Institute under the Ministry of Defence). (http://www.armada.mde.es/ihm/Productos/Avisos/Grupos/2007/Grupo05/Grupo05-2007.pdf)

The Notice to Mariners establishes a security area owing to its presence of cetaceans defined by the following coordinates (see Fig. 1):

a) 36º00,6’N, 5º28,8’W.
b) 35º55,2’N, 5º27,0’W.
c) 35º51,6’N, 5º38,4’W.
d) 35º57,0’N, 5º40,2’W.

With the aim of reducing the risk of collisions in the area it is recommended:

1) to limit maximum speed to 13 knots, and
2) to navigate with particular caution.

The same notice will be has been radioed from April to August and included in the Nautical Charts of the Area.

REPOSITIONING OF THE TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEME “OFF CABO DE GATA”

The waters off the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata – Nijar (South Almería, Andalusia) constitute an extremely valuable and sensitive coastal habitat and one of the most important Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) for the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) within the framework of the European Union’s Habitat Directive.

The European Commission LIFE Nature project “Conservation of cetaceans and sea turtles in Murcia and Andalusia” (LIFE02NAT/E/8610), fulfilled from 2002 to 2006 and coordinated by the Spanish Cetacean Society with the involvement of the Spanish Ministries of Environment and Fisheries and the National Oceanographic Institute, has developed the Conservation Plans for loggerhead turtle and the bottlenose dolphin and the Management Plan for the Southern Almeria SAC.

Within the context of the LIFE Nature Project, the Central Management Body and the UNESCO Chair for the Environment identified the relocation of the Cabo de Gata Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) as one of the “High Priority Level” Management Actions of the Southern Almeria SAC Management Plan, given the high risk of ship collisions, oil spills, etc. in the area. Therefore, a report was written and a meeting was held with the Spanish Maritime Authorities, who promoted this relocation with the IMO in 2005. Consequently the Cabo de Gata TSS has been moved from 5 to 20 nautical miles off the coast. The new location, operating since the 1st of December 2006, has been published in the Notice to Mariners and International Nautical Charts (see Fig. 2).

Certainly the main objective of this relocation is that of increasing navigational security, decreasing the risk of collisions and spills, and reducing interactions between normal TSS traffic and fishing operations; but the benefits for dolphins and other cetaceans are quite obvious, since major maritime traffic now avoids this proposed protected Area (see Figs. 3 and 4).

Under construction

As a follow-up of proyects NECESSITY and LIFE Nature “Conservation of cetaceans and sea turtles in Murcia and Andalucía the Secretariat General for the Sea (SGM initiated in November 2006 a Project for the development of technological measures for the mitigation of bycatch of protected species, known as “Proyecto Tecno”.

The base of this Project has been the development of experimental fishing campaigns and diverse studies on the populations of cetaceans and sea turtles in order to provide a robust scientific foundation on which to adopt management measures. These research activities were conducted in close collaboration with the fishermen affected, so as to actively involve them both in the strategies and policy of sustainable fishing (FAO, EC CFP, Reg. 812/2004) and biodiversity conservation (EC Habitat Directive, UNEP,..)

Another fundamental phase of the Project was the reinforcement of a structure for coordinating the cooperation between researchers, fishermen, policy makers and public pressure groups in order to enhance the adoption of bycatch mitigation management measures by consensus, increase efficiency and speed of applied research and especially to provide a foundation for making development and sustainability compatible. This coordination platform finds its main axis at the international level, so as to insure the necessary coherence for the management of activitiesand conservation of species both at an oceanic scale.

The final deliverable of the Project is a Service for the direct assistance to fishermen that offers concrete tolos that have been scientifically tested. Even if exportable to other fisheries, the Proyecto Tecno has focused mainly on the development of an Adaptive Management Plan for the surface longlining fishery. It takes into consideration the need for an agile and flexible plan able to adapt to changes, and at the same time the importance of an ecosystem based management for the fishery.

The tool for this management plan is a website and telephone service that offers an update on the technological measures proposed at its initiation:

1. A G.I.S. for mapping bycatch high risk zones and fishing efficiency.
2. Gear adaptations (by zones and seasons):
a. Obligatory use of line cutters.
b. Use of fish bait.
c. Deep fishing (60+ metres).
d. Use of 12/0 circle (albacore fishery).
e. Limitation on the use of “lightsticks”.
f. Use of blue die for bait (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian oceans).
3. Specialized endangered species bycatch training course.

In order to garantee the capacity of the management plan to adapt according to the requirements an innovative Electronic Monitoring system has been designed.

Another line of action of the Project has focused on the analysis of the use of Acoustic deterrent devices or pingers for bycatch and depredation problems caused mainly by cetaceans In this case the Project has provided a scientif ic foundation for the regulation of pinger use, offering two basic tolos to:

1. Analyse the potential use of pingers for bycatch and depredation events.
2. Detect the use of pingers in order to monitor their adequate use.

See details of the mitigation measures in the "Proyecto Tecno" Web site (in Spanish at the moment)

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Under construction