Let’s Talk Samadai

As many of you might know already, Samadai is the place where we started our Egyptian experience a few years ago: we used to go there almost every day, spending up to 12h on a small zodiac monitoring movements of the dolphins in the lagoon, collecting data on the composition of groups visiting and images for photo-identification.

Spinner dolphins resting in Samadai. Copyright HEPCA.

A full intense year focused exclusively on Samadai. When we joined HEPCA in 2010 we decided to resume our research efforts in the site, a unique reef that offers amazing opportunities to study wild dolphins and make successful, shared and comprehensive conservation happen.

During our monthly surveys, we usually visit daily boats present in the reef and give a short talk to visitors covering topics such as dolphins ecology, history of the protected area and details of our work. The response has been really positive so far and many guides have asked us to provide them with more materials and information to be included in their briefings.

And here we go.

Something we have been working on for a few months is eventually materializing: a workshop entitled “LET’S TALK SAMADAI” is being held on the 26^th of May in Marsa Alam. All guides working in Samadai are invited, more information are available here.

Please, help us spreading this invitation to your friends and fellow guides potentially  interested in participating. Contact maddalena@hepca.com for more info.

Cheers,
HEPCA Team

Linking Science and Whale-Watching

Planet Whale is a global directory of cetacean conservation organizations aiming at working as a reference point for all those involved in the cetacean world, either as passionate, scientists, students or stakeholders.  In Galway, a small crowd of researchers and whale watching operators sat to discuss the feasibility of “Linking Science and Whale-Watching”, i.e. linking cetacean’s nerds with binoculars, cameras and more or less sophisticated gizmos AND enthusiastic visitors and able businessmen. What do they have in common that make us think they could possibly be linked? The answer is obvious: wherever there are dolphins and whales, they both wish to be on a boat looking for them. Aims, reasons and ways are different, of course..but in most cases not that much and with an enormous potential for mutual enhancement of each other’s activities. How? Well, cooperation between scientists and the whale watching industry have been already endeavored in a variegated range of cases and countries and proven to be successful.

So, let’s quickly analyze the issue from the two perspectives.

The scientist

Hi, I am a biologist and I do study cetaceans. I am doing a PhD on the species X in the region Y and, not surprisingly, I am struggling to find funds to carry on my project. In the simplest scenario, I would need some equipment and software as well as a small motorized boat, fuel, a captain and a few assistants. If I can’t cover these expenses, either I cancel my field work or I change the subject of my study. Moreover, I am a sensitive person: there are already so many boats out there, I don’t want to become the umpteenth disturbance for my animals. Why am I doing my job? I don’t care too much about numbers and figures per se, I want my work to be translated in conservation and knowledge available to the world. I am an idealist still (for how long, this remains to be seen ), full of wild oats and the will to meet, share, learn and get in touch with people around me, involve and be involved.

The whale-watching operator

Hi, I run a whale-watching operation. Yes, a few years ago I decided to get involved in this business in steady growth worldwide, can you imagine that in 2008 13 million people participated in whale watching in 119 countries and territories, generating total expenditure of $2.1 billion (IFAW report) ?! I was born in the country Y, I know this place through and through, I have always been fascinated by the ocean and the marine life, I established a small business to let tourists enjoy our magnificent wildlife. I try to transfer my passion and knowledge to my crew and guests as much as I can, but my competences are limited..I am aware of laws and regulations, I handle the interactions in a sustainable way because, if there is something I cannot stand, it is the “abuse” of our natural resources. I want to contribute, I want to help conserve our nature. I also want my business to keep flourishing, with all these competitors I have to come up with something really cool.

Can you see the links emerging more and more clearly?

Basically, the whale-watching industry, in certain circumstances, can provide so called “opportunistic” platforms to scientists that would avoid desperate fund raising to cover research budgets; the scientists, in turn, would give a new flavour to whale-watching trips either involving operators in the research or by simply being the specialist on board willing to brief and answer questions. This would eventually benefit the community at large by backing conservation initiatives with scientific data and by providing education and awareness to visitors and locals. From a cetacean perspective, it is like killing two birds with one stone, i.e. the two activities would successfully happen on one vessel only and this equals less disturbance, less stress, less impact, less pollution.

It looks like a win-win situation, and in most cases it is. However it also require a certain flexibility and adaptability from the scientist, who would find challenging to adapt protocols (most of the time awesomely strict) to less structured contexts, as well a good dose of care for the natural environment and/or business sense from the operator. During the workshop, friends and colleagues Marijke De Boer (Cornwall, UK), Chiara Bertulli (Iceland), Marie Guilpin (Azores) and Annette Bombosch (Antarctic, anymals.org) presented methods and results of their scientific works, mentioning challenges and successes achieved during their surveys.

Rounds tables and team work provided exchange and debate opportunities and were focused on several points Planet Whale introduced as ‘Areas of Improvement’ identified by whale watching operators in occasion of a meeting held in 2011. Among those, the need to improve the quality of data gathered; the need for better communication between data collectors and data users; advice on where research is needed and where it may be unnecessary and the need to ensure that subsequent scientific research is fed back to operators. In a word: the need for proper clear transparent communication processes in all directions, involving all the actors, making use of adequate forms and formats, languages, approaches. Probably one of the hardest thing to do, as scientists are often poor communicators and businessmen tend to “quantify” by translating abstract values into tangible unit of measurement, thus putting the collocutors in levels hardly fitting together. However, with an effort from both sides, communication channels can be found and would eventually make real, actual, comprehensive conservation happen.  The HEPCA MEGAbase programme as well as our blog want to move in this direction..first steps, improvable, yes, but on the right track hopefully.

Madda (HEPCA Team)

Leitmotiv: questions first, then practicalities.

In October 2010, a team of scientists from Russia and the United States satellite tagged a western gray whale off Sakhalin Island, Russia. This is the first individual from the Critically Endangered western gray whale population to be tagged and tracked using telemetry. This whale, nicknamed Flex by researchers, was successfully tracked for over four months, revealing its long and unexpected migration route.

After Flex's success, other whales have been tagged and followed in 2011. Also Flex has been resighted on several occasions. He appeared to be in good body condition and, while scarred, the tag area has healed.
"This research was conducted by A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) and Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute; in collaboration with the University of Washington, Sakhalin Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, and Kronotsky State Nature Biosphere Reserve. The research was contracted through the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with funding from Exxon Neftegas Ltd. and Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd."

One of this year’s ECS workshops titled “Best Practices in Research: Tagging and Biopsy Sampling” addressed the techniques that use or cross the marine mammal skin, with no intention of being lethal, in order to sample biopsies or place tags on the animals to remotely access information such as behaviour, distribution, acoustics and genetics. The aim of the workshop was to discuss the procedure that implies possible damage or behavioural disruption to the tagged or biopsied individuals… but I can happily affirm the workshop went beyond.

The morning session, masterfully introduced and led by Peter Evans, saw a panel of experts in the field reviewing the different tagging and biopsying techniques currently in use in marine mammal research. These talks were specifically aiming at illustrating the methods used in several studies, highlighting the pros and cons of the different tools employed and suggesting possible ways of choosing the best one according to every project’s need. Indeed, lot of emphasis has been put on the importance of clearly defining the aim of the biopsy sampling itself: as researchers we always have to ask ourselves “What is the sample for? What am I looking at? Molecular genetics? Contaminants? Pollutants? Stable isotopes?” and then according to the answer we are able to deliver, choose the most appropriate and less disrupting methodology.

Simon Ingram investigated and compared the advantages and disadvantages of four different tools for sampling cetaceans and pinnipeds: crossbows, rifles, rubber band powered harpoons and swabs mounted on poles. The result? A very illuminating overview… however which  method to employ really depends on which species you are working on and again what are your questions. Well, and of course which is your budget!

I admit I have been pretty busy in noting down advice, ideas and recommendations I had not thought of! There has been room for questions and curiosities, and the experts favourably answered the audience’s thirst for knowledge. If you wish to read a good review about the cetacean biopsy techniques, have a look to this article.

In the afternoon the baton was handed on to Greg Donovan who, while presenting his telemetry study about the Western Grey Whale (see images) , stressed on the importance of the decision process which undoubtedly has to underlie every research project undertaken: clarify first which are the objectives of the project in order to better justify the use of a particular methodology. When invasive techniques are involved, maximum care needs to be taken in selecting the less risky methods!

Eventually the experts together with all the participants held a very interesting, confrontational and inspiring round table to seek a consensus for best practice recommendations to the ECS membership. These guidelines will be published on the ECS website and we will post the link here as well.. stay tuned!

Amina (HEPCA Team)

ECS, Mighty Ocean, Despot and Fish&Chips. The cetologists meet in Ireland.

The European Cetacean Society (ECS) was established in January 1987 and aims to promote and advance the scientific studies and conservation efforts of marine mammals as well as to gather and disseminate information about cetaceans to members of the Society and the public at large. The ECS is coordinated by a Council of 11 members and each year organizes an Annual Conferences in a European country.

Members of the ECS have gathered this year in Galway, Ireland, to attend one of the most intense conferences of the last years. 450 participants, 70 talks and 230 posters, a massive deployment of ideas, techniques and case studies in various forms and shapes to embody the theme “Communication: information and ideas worth sharing”.

The venue

Several workshops were organized, we had the chance to attend “Linking Science and Whale Watching”, “Tagging and Biopsy Sampling” and “Grampus griseus 200th Anniversary: Risso’s dolphins in the Contemporary World”. Three very different topics, we’ll tell you more about them in upcoming posts.

The conference started with Mairtin O’Connors playing “The Mighty Ocean”, an amazing instrumental Irish song composed especially for the ECS, followed by the first of three enlightening invited speakers.

Matthijs Schouten is a botanist and philosopher, he took us through environmental philosophy principles trying to help us understand what kind of relationships we do have with the natural world. Are we despots, stewards, partners or participants? Surrounded by statistics, models, maths and pure science, a breath of humanities has been really appreciated. The three of us were really struck by his talk, a dedicated post is in preparation.

Louis Herman has been studying dolphins and whales for 35 years, a pioneer cetologist in Hawaii where, back in the 70’s, he was told “there may be whales out there”. There were indeed. He provided contributions in the fields of dolphins perception, cognition and communication as well as humpback whales distribution and behavioural ecology off Hawaii.

Greg Donovan, 30 years studying cetacean behind him, is now the head of science of the International Whaling Commission. In his talk “Conservation Science: the ethics of communication” he reminded the audience about the importance of proper, targeted and honest communications, with respect, ethics and Guinnes (yes, the beer..he is Irish J) as recurring keywords.

70 presentations by fellow researchers illustrated results of studies from countless countries, on various species, different approaches for different research questions, new tools and techniques. The entire European cetacean cosmos was there, with all its nuances. Moreover, behind the scene, ECS always provides a perfect culture medium for informal exchanges, contacts and interesting encounters. Our poster was there, people stopped by and had a look, some getting in touch with us to find out more about our species.

Galway

Funny enough, the most intense ECS conference happened in the Irish sunniest week. Sunniest ever, probably. What a shame to be locked indoor while the weather outside was so sweet, but the high quality of the presentations given was worth the sacrifice.

We compliment the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and its partners and collaborators for the punctual organisation of the event and look forward to visiting Portugal for the ECS 2013.

HEPCA Team

Useful links:
ECS Conference 2012 – http://www.iwdg.ie/ecs/
ECS – http://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/

ECS 2012 – our poster!

The poster we presented at the European Cetacean Society Conference 2012, currently happening in Galway, Ireland, is available for download.

Costa M., Cesario A., Fumagalli M., Notarbartolo di Sciara G. – Poster ECS 2012

Accounts following soon!

HEPCA Team

Wounded spinner dolphin in Samadai

It is common knowledge that spinner dolphins’ main predators have to be searched among pelagic sharks. However, for the first time we have observed what looks like the result of an unsuccessful attack.

Since the beginning of our projects in 2010 we did observe only twice individuals carrying major scars and wounds possibly related to shark attack attempts: the first encounter occurred in the summer 2010 when we spotted and documented a pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) with a rounded fresh laceration on its side.

The second one has just happened a few days ago in Samadai, large scars displayed by one of the resident spinner dolphins (named SL0010 and known since January 2006): the image below shows the characteristics of the injury which goes from the tip of the dorsal fin all the way down to the genital area, possibly looking like the result of a failed attack. Dr. Mazzariol is helping us understand more about this scarring pattern which would seem to be consistent with a bump and bite attack, however the margins and the angle of the abrasions are somehow unusual (it feels like living in a CSI episode..)

Copyright HEPCA

Copyright HEPCA

We have been told that the animal has been spotted by dive guides, park rangers and tourists in the last weeks when the wound was still fresh and recent. At the moment it looks like on the road to recovery, however we cannot say that the animal has recovered yet: we noticed that its swimming ability was still somehow altered and its movement impaired. We call upon the community in Marsa Alam to help us monitor the situation: if you have any images of this dolphin or you see it during your excursions in Marsa Alam waters, please send us pictures and report the sighting to us.

HEPCA Team

Oh thou enthralling bird of prey, shalt prey not on our equipment, please!

Ospray soaring over the boat. Copyright HEPCA

Wind sensor, with the vane not yet removed. Copyright HEPCA

The dolphins were not the only regular characters of our recent winter story in Satayah reef. Indeed every day we were visited –better- we were inspected by a friendly majestic osprey…

A bit too friendly actually… especially when it decided that the highest point of the boat was the perfect place to land in order not to be soaked by the splashes of the large waves breaking on the reef. So far so good, lucky us to have the chance to see this critter so close up!  If only the highest point would not have been our delicate wind sensor! We strongly suspect that the bird perching on the sensor was really annoyed by a piece of it as the wind vane was removed from the device! Luckily it fell on board and we could fix it, eventually. Happy ending.

Our conclusion is that ospreys are fascinating birds of prey indeed..as long as their target is not an expensive and precious piece of equipment!

 

 

HEPCA Team