Active from 2017 to 2019
It was the largest research project on the conservation status of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the Mediterranean Sea. Tursiomed was funded by the Blue Planet Foundation – Virginia Böger Stiftung XX and coordinated by the Fondazione Acquario di Genova Onlus, with the participation of WWF Italian Switzerland and the patronage of ACCOBAMS (Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans in the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area).
The project aimed to evaluate the conservation status of the Mediterranean bottlenose dolphin, expanding the collaboration network between the various research institutions. The individual institutions shared their data (sighting points of the species under study and other Cetaceans, photographic data for photo-identification of individuals through the natural identification signs of the dorsal fin) on the platform www.intercet.it , created by Acquario di Genova and managed by Fondazione Acquario di Genova for Regione Liguria as part of the INTERREG “GIONHA” project.
Thanks to the TursioMed project, which lasted three years, the scientific community has had access to the Intercet platform ( www.intercet.it ) data relating to over 17,268 sightings and photos relating to 3,381 photo-identified individuals of Tursiops truncatus (out of a total of 6,985 cetaceans sighted), which will allow the analysis of the presence and distribution of the bottlenose dolphin at the Mediterranean level, to evaluate the numerical consistency of the different subpopulations, the type of connections existing between them and to estimate the density of this species in the areas examined at the Mediterranean level.
The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a robust-looking dolphin, widespread in all the seas of the world, except for the polar and sub-polar zones. It is regularly present in the Mediterranean basin where it finds its privileged habitat in correspondence with the continental shelf. It has a resident behavior and is able to develop local traditions to make the most of the resources of the territory of residence. The bottlenose dolphin is considered "of low concern" (LC-Least Concern) by the IUCN (2019) at a global level, and the same assessment was made in 2021 for the Mediterranean population. The main threats derive directly or indirectly from human activity, mainly the over-exploitation of fish resources, pollution of the food chain, deterioration and fragmentation of the habitat and interference with some fishing systems.
The TursioMed project had the following partners:
Italy: Accademia del Leviatano ONLUS, CRAMA Association, MARECAMP Association, MAR-ECO Association, MENKAB Association, Me.Ri.S. Association, Ce.SRAM - Marine Environment Study and Research Center; CE.TU.S. Research Center, CIMA Research Foundation, Delfini del Ponente Aps, IAS-CNR, Ketos, MareTerra Onlus, Oceanomare Delphis Onlus, Nature Observatory, SEA ME Sardinia onlus, Sotto il Mare Aps, Tethys Research Institute, University of Genoa, University of Pisa, University of Turin, Thalassa Research and Training, WhaleWatch Liguria-Golfo Paradiso; France: Association BREACH, EcoOcéan Institut, GECEM - Mediterranean Cetacean Study Group; MIRACETI; Spain: Alnilam Research and Conservation, Associaciò CETACEA; Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute, EDMAKTUB; SUBMON, University of Valencia; Greece: Gaia Research Institute Onlus, Ionian Dolphin Project (Tethys Institute); Israel: IMMRAC - Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa; Slovenia: Morigenos; Switzerland: WWF Suisse; Tunisia: the Tunisian Dolphin Project, RAC/SPA; Turkey: Istanbul University, Turkish Marine Research Foundation, Marine Mammals Research Association/Denìz Memelileri Araştirma Derneği.
Sponsors:
Blue Planet Foundation – Virginia Böger Stiftung XX
Sponsorship:
ACCOBAMS (Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans in the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area).
