Two more killed bottlenose dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) were spotted in the open sea in the NE Aegean, by researchers of the Archipelagos Marine Protection Institute.
As the heads of the organisation emphasise: "Given that in this particular marine area, we have been recording bottlenose dolphins and tuna 'fishing' the same schools of fish for decades, we believe that the killing of the dolphins was intentional after they were trapped in the specific fishing gear."
In particular, as announced by the organisation: "In the same area, we had recently identified two more killed dolphins of the same species. In this particularly extensive stretch of sea, where the coastline is more than 50 miles long, it is estimated that the total number of dead dolphins is much higher, as most of them go unnoticed."
As Archipelagos explains: "When dolphins are killed, a large hole is often opened in their abdomen, with the aim of sinking faster and not reaching the shores and leaving traces of the kills."
In order to identify other similar incidents, the Archipelagos Institute vessel remains in the open sea today since the first wreck, while the contribution of the citizens who are on board and in coastal areas is invaluable.
According to the organisation: "The only thing that is certain is that the specific deaths of the dolphins come from interaction with large fishing vessels."
As the leaders underline: "Having investigated the recent activity of the most suspicious vessels operating in this area (motor trawlers, large swordfish, tuna vessels, from Greece and Turkey), we believe that the specific deaths were caused by large groups of fishing vessels that they aim at tuna fishing and come from Turkey, which had intense activity in the international waters of the wider area in the previous period of time".
"Archipelagos" emphasises that: "These specific fishing complexes are a chronic scourge of the Aegean, as they not only deplete tuna stocks by violating the fixed fishing quotas set by the International Commission ICCAT, but at the same time decimate pelagic dolphin species - mainly bottlenose dolphins."
"These large fishing vessels carry 2 small boats with high horsepower on their stern, which have the ability to circle an area in a short period of time, trapping everything there," the organisation concluded in its announcement.
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