Ocean Conservationists, Leo and Saffron, have recently been onboard Ambassador’s Ambition to Spain and Portugal. On their travels, they sailed through the narrow Strait of Gibraltar, sparking their curiosity about how cetaceans are protected in such a busy waterway...
We had an amazing time spotting cetaceans during our sailing; the sea had been calm, the sun was always shining and the sightings were plentiful.
When we arrived in Gibraltar, we could see both Spain and Morocco, revealing just how narrow that waterway truly is – only 14km! The Strait is the only access to the Mediterranean, meaning vessel traffic is high. Approximately 300 ships cross the Strait every day.
However, it is also an important habitat for a wide range of cetacean species, including fin whales, orcas, sperm whales, pilot whales, and common dolphins.
But how does the traffic above affect our cetaceans?
Fin whales travel through the Strait from feeding to breeding grounds, and since the Strait is very busy, this increases the risk of vessel strike; the forceful impact of any vessel on a live cetacean. Constant vessel traffic also causes noise pollution, affecting cetaceans’ ability to communicate and feed. Intense fishing activity has reduced the prey available for dolphins and whales, while also posing a risk for accidental entanglement in fishing gear. Together, these pressures make the Strait a challenging environment for our cetaceans trying to survive alongside human activity.
So, what is being done in the Strait of Gibraltar to protect our cetacean friends?
The Strait of Gibraltar has been designated as an Important Marine Mammal Area [IMMA] which brings certain restrictions. For example, fishing permits and restrictions are in place to regulate fishing activity and limit its impact. One example would be bluefin tuna, whose numbers were previously decimated after years of overfishing. This had a major impact on the Iberian orca population who feed on bluefin tuna in these waters.
To tackle the threat of vessel strike, Spain has created a voluntary speed restriction of 13 knots in the Strait. This is specifically to protect the sperm whales who feed here, but also for the fin whales who migrate through. However, as these are not obligatory, not all ships are adhering to these restrictions.
Responsible whale watching is also enforced with codes of conduct and permits for dolphin watching companies, to reduce disturbance to these cetaceans in their own environment. We saw this in action when we were escorted on a dolphin watching trip with our guests…
We were excited – we’d already seen lots of dolphins from the ship, but you cannot beat seeing them up close in a small boat! Not long after we’d sailed out of the harbour, the resident common dolphins came in sight! These dolphins use the bay as a feeding and calving ground, so it is important they are protected. The guides explained that they could only approach the pod from the side and are not allowed to chase the dolphins. Following the guidelines, we kept our distance, until the curious dolphins decided to join us and soon surrounded the boat. We stood at the front watching them bow ride and could even hear their whistles above the water which was simply amazing!
It was such a joy to see them up close and safe in their home waters - a truly fin-tastic reminder of the importance of conservation efforts.
The only way we can create safe spaces for whales and dolphins is by monitoring them and that's where our amazing army of citizen scientists come in. If you want to help us to collect data that can be used to hold governments to account join one of our training courses