Especies mariñas protexidas

Abstract

The Galician coastline is home to more than 20 different species of cetaceans, 6 of pinnipides, 6 of chelonians, one of selachians and one aquatic carnivore, of which the dolphin and the porpoise as resident and protected species which are, nevertheless, under threat. From a social situation which revealed a total lack of knowledge some years ago, the situation has moved on to a new phase in which social participation has become integrated into the network of monitoring animals that have run aground. The more than 200 cases of creatures run aground each year mean that information about these species flows in a habitual way. In order to be able to undertake a task of protection it is necessary to be able to identify the threats, a labour which is of great difficulty at sea, and to design a series of actions amongst which there can be a Network of Creatures Run Aground which would give assistance and rehabilitation to beached animals. A unit of field work with contacts in the fishing sector, in order to tackle the problems of interaction with the fishing industry. The creation of a multi-disciplinary research team. An increase and the consolidation of monitoring with the resulting social involvement through environmental volunteers. The structural and oblique change in policies dealing with the marine environment. The need for dra wing up Protection Plans for the survival of the P. phocoena and the T. truncatus, as well as the checking of other species which might be in a similar situation.