Marine Wildlife of the Pontine Islands

The waters between the Pontine archipelagos and Ischia Islands represent an extraordinary opportunity to have special encounters large wild cetaceans as, the presence of seven different species in the Mediterranean sea has been recorded. The travelers of the sea, the people who sail in this corner of the South Tyrrhenian Sea often enjoy the elite presence of our marine friends.

Waking up in the clear sky of the morning under the first sunrays to the relaxing ultrasounds of large cetaceans swimming in formation or leaping out of the water has something magic and mystical in itself.

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Nevertheless, according to experts in field “the strong impact of the boats on cetaceans is becoming an everyday routine especially in summertime: distress and disorientation, collisions and deaths by a propeller strike.” In spite of the EU band on the drift-netting fishery in place since January 1st, 2002, illegal fishing with driftnets is still a problem around the Mediterranean here as in other places. Unfortunate catch events are still being recorded for several species.

The adoption of well-timed management measures are now crucial to protect cetaceans in this key area are clearly needed. Experts scientists and marine ecologists from several organization have permanent marine camp-studies and are currently working on projects trying to establish the right measures to balance the needs of these beautiful creatures with the increased tourism and fishing activities. In particular, Delphis, a non-profit organization aimed at advising and implementing a Mediterranean dolphin conservation project and generally a diffusion of the welfare and protection project concerning the cetacean communities living in between Ventotene, St Stefano and Ischia Island waters.

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Beginning with the year 1991, Delphis with base in Naples, arrangend severals studies and projects in cooperation with other international conservation bodies like Tethys, ASMS, and OceanoMare focusing to the conservation of dolphins' coastal habitat through the creation of a cetacean reserve within a future marine protected area in the South Tyrrhenian. The scientists involved in these projects work on the ground that “the basis of every research is respect for the animals.”

Before describing in details about our special marine friends, for all the lucky ones to enjoy the sea at it very best with only the sound of the wind and waves on a sailing boat (we are not in sympathy with the ‘motorized’ – read Our Ethical Code) here we include few recommendations to make the most of these encounters and make sure that these beautiful creatures can continue their life with the minimum level of harassment. So, remember, they are in their ‘home’ and we are the ‘guests’ this time. Therefore, respect above all.

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Initial recommendation do not harass our marine friends. Powerful pleasure boats may be contemporarily present during the summer during the seasons mo st cetaceans give birth to their offsprings. The peaks of cetacean births corresponds with the period of maximum tourists crowding along the coast of northern Campania and southern Lazio, and the newborns of these still loyal local

populations and visitors have, today, face a new threat constituted by the squads of the ever-increasing number of speed pleasure boats. A too close approach or long and tiring chase on their way would certainly be a stressful harassment for our friends. Unfortunately, examples of the disruptive potential of unregulated human-dolphin interactions in the Mediterranean Sea and the impact of pleasure boating on cetaceans, are not uncommon. As result some specimens are already in danger. In 2003 the Mediterranean common dolphin 'subpopulation' was listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals (http://www.redlist.org), based on criterion A2, which refers to a 50% decline in abundance over the last three generations, the causes of which 'may not have ceased or may not be understood or may not be reversible'.

        Click on Photos to see the photografies of the Reserve

        Click on Photos to see the Marine Map