14.04.2023 – Hide and seek

There are days like today too. Difficult days with a long search. This requires a lot of concentration from our spotter and crew at sea during all tours. We saw Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and Striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) with a lot of effort today. Our spotter Drumond, who was our captain on the Stenella today, discovered one Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis). Overall, the animals behaved rather reserved. It was just hide and seek. Fortunately, we were still able to introduce our friends from the blue office to our guests.

On the second tour we were able to see the catch of a traditional fishing boat. It was a huge tuna. Those who like to eat tuna can do so here with a clear conscience. Tuna off the coast of Madeira are not caught with ring wall nets but with lines. There is no bycatch, as in the nets of large commercial fisheries. Buying canned tuna should also be avoided if it has the “Dolphin save” label on it. The tuna fishermen have a high rate of allowable by-catch of dolphins, which can die in the process and still be granted the “Dolphin save” label. This is a form of “green washing” and a scam to the consumer. Smaller species of dolphins in particular, such as Striped dolphins, Spotted dolphins and Common dolphins are affected by this ring wall net catching technique.

Anyone who would like to support o protect Striped dolphins will find the Japan/Taiji petition in our petition corner. There these beautiful dolphins are brutally slaughtered from May to September.

https://www.lobosonda.com/whale-watching/marine-protection/

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09.30: Atlantic spotted dolphins, Striped dolphins, Loggerhead turtle

13.30: Atlantic spotted dolphins

Stenella

09.30: Common dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphins, Striped dolphins

13.30: Atlantic spotted dolphins

16.00: Striped dolphins