Strong site-fidelity increases vulnerability of common bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus in a mass tourism destination in the western Mediterranean Sea

• DOI: 10.1017/s0025315413000866
• Publication Date: 2013-07-24T13:09:45Z
• Authors: Joan Gonzalvo; Jaume Forcada; Esteve Grau; Alex Aguilar
• Keywords: Overfishing; Marine protected area; Archipelago; Bottlenose dolphin; Marine conservation; Marine ecosystem

The local population of common bottlenose dolphin in the Balearic Islands coastal waters, a mass tourism destination western Mediterranean subject to increasing anthropogenic pressures, was monitored over three-year period. Photo-identification surveys provided relatively small estimate, even though islands are considered be hotspot for species Mediterranean. Dolphins showed strong site-fidelity and limited mobility across archipelago, which makes them highly dependent on waters severely affected by overfishing, habitat degradation boat disturbance resulting from continuously-growing shipping industry. Ecosystem-based management actions urgently needed ensure conservation this fragile dolphins. Conservation measures should developed within already-existing political legal marine biodiversity framework collaboration with authorities stakeholders.