Pesca illegale
Wed, 02/09/2011 - 19:33 | Zona
An important threat for short-beaked common dolphins and other cetaceans in the area is represented by the illegal driftnet fishery, sadly known for the heavy toll paid by Mediterranean cetaceans.
On January 1st, 2002, EU ban on all driftnetting fisheries; notwithstanding, fishing activities with driftnets persist in some Italian waters as an illegal practice.
This fishery is reportedly impacting local cetacean communities, with documented bycatch events involving striped dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales.
In a rare case, the rescue was possible. On 9 August 2004, a sperm whale social unit of five individuals, two adult female and three immatures, was found entangled in a driftnet off of Capo Palinuro.
Their tails were totally immobilised by the net and one animal was completed entangled. The group was freed by the Italian Coast Guard scuba-diving team during a two days of rescue operation.
