Mediterranean Whales and Dolphins are in Crisis

ZURICH, Switzerland, April 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- NGOS Join Forces to Protect Cetacean Populations in the Region

The conservation status of whales and dolphins in the
Mediterranean Sea is of growing concern due to increasing pressure from human
activities. Unknown to most people, about 15 different species of whales and
dolphins can be found in the Mediterranean Sea and eight of them regularly.
The situation of three whale and dolphin species - sperm whale, common
dolphin and bottlenose dolphin - is critical and one - the orca in the Strait
of Gibraltar - is in immediate danger of extinction.

Even common dolphins, once the most abundant species in the
Mediterranean, are now classified as Endangered in the IUCN Red List. This
species has disappeared from the Adriatic Sea due to human impact and it
faces local extinction in the Ionian Sea. "The Mediterranean is a sad case of
fisheries mismanagement. Accidental death in fishing gear and over-fishing
threaten top marine predators such as dolphins" explains Sigrid Lueber from
OceanCare.

"Immediate action is needed, but governments have so far
failed to implement proper conservation measures to give whales and dolphins
a future in the region" says Nicolas Entrup from WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin
Conservation Society.

To respond to political stagnation and to address these
problems, research and conservation organizations have recently joined forces
and created a new and influential network committed to preserving marine
biodiversity and reducing human impact on cetacean populations. The network,
called Cetacean Alliance, aims to develop synergies and create opportunities
for collaboration among individuals and organizations determined to protect
cetacean populations living in the Mediterranean Sea. The alliance includes
research and conservation NGOs with bases in Austria, Croatia, Germany,
Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K, representing a
collective membership of over 100,000 supporters.

Cetacean Alliance has launched a website - 
http://www.cetaceanalliance.org - that aims to disseminate information, raise
awareness, promote marine conservation and ultimately facilitate the recovery
of dolphins and whales living in Mediterranean waters. The web site features
educational materials, videos, research updates, conservation-oriented
information, and tips for interested students keen to study whales and
dolphins.

Contact:

    Sigrid Lüber
    Ocean Care
    Mobile: +41-79-475-26-87
    E-Mail: slueber@oceancare.org

    Nicolas Entrup
    WDCS Germany
    Tel.: +49-171-1423-117
    E-Mail: nicolas.entrup@wdcs.org

    Giovanni Bearzi
    Tethys Research Institute
    E-Mail: giovanni.bearzi@gmail.com