/24-7PressRelease/ - Essex, UK, September 13, 2008 - A group of Europe's leading marine conservation and research organisations joined forces to carry out crucial research into some of the rarest and most elusive marine animals on the planet - beaked whales. The research programme, called "Diver 2008", after these animals' deep diving ability, ran during July 2008 off the northern coast of Spain, within the Bay of Biscay - an area with a number of deep water canyons which is renowned for sightings of these mysterious marine mammals.
The research was important and timely because beaked whales are known to be very sensitive to certain sub-sea noise and there have been numerous cases of mass strandings of these animals which have been linked to concurrent use of military sonar.
Dr Kelly Macleod, Project Coordinator of the Diver surveys and Chairperson of the charity ORCA (Organisation Cetacea), commented: "The team worked extremely well together during the research and had a number of opportunities to investigate these rare whales at close quarters. This has provided the opportunity to really correlate sightings of the whales with underwater features and will help map their preferred habitat".
This was a highly successful trip. During the study programme, the research team recorded 120 sightings of whale and dolphins, including nine definite Cuvier's Beaked Whales, seven of which were photographed for future identification purposes. Other species seen included a pod of 13 Sperm Whales, globally endangered Fin Whales, many dolphins and another rarely seen beaked whale species - the Sowerby's Beaked Whale.
Jos Antonio Vázquez Bonales, Sightings Coordinator for AMBAR, said "We were able to take a number of high quality photo-identification images of the whales we encountered which will form part of a catalogue. The distinctive patterns of scratches and marks on the fins and bodies of these whales make each photograph like a fingerprint for that particular animal and will aid identification of the same animals should they be sighted again".
Analysis of the data is still proceeding and a full report will be generated later in the year. However, the top line results demonstrate the success of the project, providing a robust foundation to help underpin future conservation measures for these vulnerable animals.
Dr Tom Brereton, Marinelife Research Director, commented "Through the Diver 2008 project, we have made an important step forward in identifying the range and movements of Cuvier's Beaked Whales. This data is vital if we are to devise effective conservation strategies for these fascinating deep water animals."
The data collected through Diver 2008 will add to the knowledge base on beaked whales developed by Ambar, Marinelife and ORCA which is obtained through surveys on commercial ferries in the region. All three groups share this data and collaborate with other ferry researchers, through the Atlantic Research Coalition (ARC).
- Ends -
For further information including interviews and images please contact:
Dr Kelly Macleod
Diver 2008 Project Coordinator
Tel: +44 (0) 78881 504779
E: km53@st-andrews.ac.uk
Adrian Shephard
DIVER 2008 Publicity Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 7789 657617
adrian.shephard@marine-life.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
About AMBAR
AMBAR is a marine conservation organisation founded in 1996 who research marine mammals and turtles off the Basque coast of Spain. They run several research projects, including dedicated surveys from large commercial ferries. Further information on AMBAR can be found by visiting our website at http://www.ambarcetaceos.com
About Marinelife
Marinelife is a Charitable Limited Company established to co-ordinate and develop a growing portfolio of global research and monitoring projects, including the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme, operating since 1995. Through these we aim to further the conservation of the wildlife of coasts and oceans through scientific investigation and educational activities. Marinelife continues to work in partnership with a number of other research groups, spearheading an international initiative, the Atlantic Research Coalition (ARC) that aims to describe changes in the status of whales and dolphins at a European scale. Further information on Marinelife can be found by visiting our website at http://www.marine-life.org.uk
About ORCA (Organisation Cetacea)
ORCA is a marine conservation organisation which promotes the conservation of the marine environment through research, partnership and education. Founded in 2000, we seek to provide a forum for raising interest and participation in conservation research by creating a network that is accessible to all interested groups and provides a focus for enjoying and learning about cetaceans. Further information on ORCA can be found by visiting our website at http://www.orcaweb.org.uk
About Seamark Trust
The Seamark Trust is a preservation and conservation charity which aims to advance the knowledge of and promote research into all aspects of the marine environment throughout the world. It carries out a number of projects and has been involved in previous surveys within the Bay of Biscay from its yacht the BlueFin of Hamble. Further information on the Seamark Trust can be found by visiting our website at http://www.seamarktrust.org.uk
About the Atlantic Research Coalition (ARC)
ARC is a working group composed of several cetacean research organisations working across a number of countries with the primary aims of sharing data and therefore gaining greater insights into whale and dolphin distribution and species movement.
Current ARC members:
• Marinelife / Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP) - England
• Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) - Ireland
• SeaTrust - Wales
• Sociedad para Estudio y la Conservacion de la Fauna Marina AMBAR - Spain
• Project Rugvin - Netherlands
• Aberdeen University - Scotland
• Plymouth to Santander Marine Survey - England
• Organisation Cetacea (ORCA) - England
• Norcet - The Northern North Sea Cetacean Ferry Survey
---
Press release service and press release distribution provided by http://www.24-7pressrelease.com# # #
Read more Press Releases from Adrian Shephard:
