Candidatura Reserva da Biosfera - Santana Madeira Biosfera

Figure 53. Grouper (Serranus atricauda) at Rocha do Navio seafloor
several species of sea turtles, which mistake plastic bags with their prey, causing them to
choke or suffer from digestive tract infections and subsequently death. The dumping of
garbage in the streams by the population, which indirectly flows to the ocean or directly
in the ocean by crews, of fishing, leisure and commercial boats are the major sources of
this type of purely and perfectly avoidable anthropogenic pollution.
The marine-touristic activities of cetaceans (whale & dolphin watching) and seabirds
observation (seabird watching), are fast growing touristic activities.The lack of regulation
of these activities, leading to some tour operators who flout the rules of good conduct on
the observation of these marine species, exerting too much pressure on the animals daily
and causing disturbances that may lead to withdrawal of these species in coastal areas,
especially considering that many groups of cetaceans have lactating pups and the birds
have chicks in the nest to feed, requiring thus, areas that can provide them guarantees
of the survival of their juveniles.
Man introduced exotic species that have adapted to the ecological conditions of the
island, are major causers of inumerous impacts to several native plant and animal
species. In Madeira several species of mammals, which constitute real threats as the
black rat (Rattus rattus), the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), the mice (Mus domesticus),
100 Application of Santana, Madeira to Biosphere Reserve – UNESCO - MAB