22.08.2023 – Baby dolphins, beaked whales, and ghost nets?

Today’s tours were extraordinary. From breaching Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) calves, to curious Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) giants, smooth Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and even tiny yellow nudibranchs found on plastic debris floating in the Atlantic. All these incredible animals filled me with excitement during each sighting. However, this excitement was accompanied by growing concerns. 

During our trips, we encountered not just one, but two ghost nets. Both times, these nets were found alarmingly close to our sighting locations. Ghost nets are abandoned or lost fishing nets that harm marine life. Composed of plastic, they hurt animals and pollute waters.

Did you know that approximately 640,000 tons of fishing gear, including ghost nets, are lost or discarded into the oceans annually? Of these, 46% are ghost nets. These entangling hazards harm more than 100,000 marine animals each year, including sea turtles, seals, dolphins, and various fish species.

Maintaining alive the fight against plastic pollution in our oceans is crucial to fostering the development of new technologies aimed at addressing this pressing issue. The resolution of the ghost net problem needs international cooperation. Organizations, governments, and communities across different countries must collaborate to formulate policies and practices that mitigate the impact of ghost nets on our oceans. But, this can take too long, that’s why we want to begin with ourselves.

Here, at Lobosonda, we firmly believe in the importance of raising awareness about ghost nets among fishermen, consumers, and the general public. Such awareness is crucial in preventing the further spread of these hazards. Improved education and better management of fishing gear can contribute significantly to reducing the number of ghost nets in our oceans.

Let’s continue our efforts to restore Earth to its natural state and ensure the cleanliness of our oceans.

By Camila Dávila

Sightings of the day

Stenella

9:30 Atlantic spotted dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Blainville’s beaked whales

13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphin

17:00 Bottlenose dolphin, Blainville’s beaked whales

Ribeira Brava

9:30 Atlantic spotted dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Blainville’s beaked whales

13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin

17:00 Atlantic spotted dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Blainville’s beaked whales