Ocean Sentry
(From newswiretoday.com)- A group of Europe’s leading marine conservation and research organisations joined forces to carry out crucial research into some of the rarest and most elusive marine animals on the planet – beaked whales. The research programme, called “Diver 2008”, after these animals’ deep diving ability, ran during July 2008 off the northern coast of Spain, within the Bay of Biscay – an area with a number of deep water canyons which is renowned for sightings of these mysterious marine mammals. The research was important and timely because beaked whales are known to be very sensitive to certain sub-sea noise and there have been numerous cases of mass strandings of these animals which have been linked to concurrent use of military sonar.
Analysis of the data is still proceeding and a full report will be generated later in the year. However, the top line results demonstrate the success of the project, providing a robust foundation to help underpin future conservation measures for these vulnerable animals.
Dr Tom Brereton, Marinelife Research Director, commented “Through the Diver 2008 project, we have made an important step forward in identifying the range and movements of Cuvier’s Beaked Whales. This data is vital if we are to devise effective conservation strategies for these fascinating deep water animals.”
(Source: MarineLife)
