Decline of common dolphins in western Greece

This graph shows the decline of common dolphins around Kalamos in years 1995-2007, based on photographic mark-recapture.

Common dolphin numbers dropped from about 150 animals in 1996 to only 15 in 2007.

Ongoing research by Tethys indicates a high risk of local eradication for common dolphins by the year 2010 unless fishery management measures are implemented immediately within this area.

The Ionian Dolphin Project research team

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Bearzi G., Notarbartolo di Sciara G., Reeves R.R., Canadas A., Frantzis A. 2004. Conservation Plan for short-beaked common dolphins in the Mediterranean Sea. ACCOBAMS, Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area. 90 pp. (1.9 Mb)

Bearzi G., Politi E., Agazzi S., Azzellino A. 2006. Prey depletion caused by overfishing and the decline of marine megafauna in eastern Ionian Sea coastal waters (central Mediterranean). Biological Conservation 127(4):373-382. (444 Kb)

Bearzi G. 2007. Marine conservation on paper. Conservation Biology 21(1):1-3. (176 Kb)