Cetaceans in Greece: Present status of knowledge

spread and lethality (Aguilar & Borrell 1994). Blubber concentrations of DDT and PCB, the
two main organochlorine pollutants, show a slowly declining trend in the last two decades
(Aguilar & Borrell, 2005) but levels are still high. Intentional killing is still a cause of mortality
in the Greek Seas, although less than in the past decades. Although fishing gear damage
and depredation predominantly involves common bottlenose dolphins, fishermen in the
Greek Seas may not be able to discriminate among dolphin species killing in retaliation may
involve other dolphin species including striped dolphins. Incidental mortality in pelagic
gillnets (driftnets, ferrettare, thonailles etc.) are a major source of mortality all over the
western Mediterranean, likely killing thousands of striped dolphins per year in several parts
of the Mediterranean (e.g. Aguilar 2006). Their use in waters surrounding the Greek Seas is
relatively limited, and seems to concern predominantly or exclusively boats belonging to the
Italian and Turkish fishing fleets. No Greek boats seem to be using these nets.
IUCN Red List classification
Mediterranean subpopulation proposed as ‘Vulnerable’ (Aguilar 2006); listed as ‘Least
Concern’ globally (IUCN 2008).
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