25.09.2018 – Cetaceans in danger

Today there were no animals around. Fortunately, days like this are extremely rare. For reasons we don´t know the cetaceans must have left the island. This reminds us on how blessed we are here on Madeira with the usual great abundances of multiple whale and dolphin species during our trips. We should never forget that this is not necessarily the case and the marine ecosystems as well as some species in particular are critically threatened.

Pollution, marine debris and trash, increasing ship traffic and offshore constructions with the consequence of more underwater noise, food scarcities resulting from overfishing but also direct hunting are very serious anthropogenic threats to whales and dolphins. Luckily whaling on Madeira ended in 1981 after four decades of killing.

It is unbelievable to see that critically endangered marine mammals, like the second biggest animals on this planet, the gigantic Fin whale(Balaenoptera physalus), as well as thousands of Minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and multiple dolphin species including the impressive Pilot whales (Globicephala spec.) are still getting killed every year. Iceland, Norway, Japan but also the Faroe Islands and some countries in Latin America and Asia ignore international conservation treaties.

Nowadays, whaling is economically unprofitable, whale products are easily substitutable and any traditional use should be in line with species conservation. Therefore, please raise your voice and consider signing these petitions: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/whales_last_push/?rc=fb (whaling in general) and https://ifaw.is/ (Iceland’s whaling). More related petitions can be found on our website under “Marine Protection”.

Unlike land mammals, cetaceans cannot be kept and bred in captivity and then released back into the wild. The ocean, as big as it is, is their home. Once all gone out there, they will be irretrievable extinct. There is no way back. Let´s get active to never reach that point!

by Jan-Christopher Fischer

Sightings of the day

Stenella

08:30 Snorkeling trip without sightings

12:00 No sightings

15:30 No sightings