Preprint volume - SIBM

Pre-print Volume – Posters
AQUACULTURE COMMITEE
temperature, water transparency and number of recreational boats (source of
anthropogenic impact).
Fig. 1 – Marine offshore fish farm in the Gulf of Alghero.
Impianto di maricoltura offshore nel Golfo di Alghero.
Conclusions – This study evidenced the presence of bottlenose dolphins near an
offshore fish farm in the Gulf of Alghero. Two main factors influenced the seasonal
occurrence of Tursiops truncatus specimens in the neighbouring of the fish farm:
environmental variables (i.e. temperature and transparency of the water) and
anthropogenic impact (i.e. presence of recreational boats). The peak of dolphin
abundance and their interaction with the fish farm observed during the fall-winter
seasons could be related to the low availability of food in the Gulf of Alghero. On the
other hand, higher marine traffic observed during the summer months could negatively
influence the presence of dolphins in this area. These results can be compared with
similar studies carried out along the North eastern coast of Sardinia once more
confirming that bottlenose dolphins can frequently capitalize on aquaculture activities
in Sardinia Island (Diaz Lopez et al., 2005; Diaz Lopez & Shirai, 2007).
Acknowledgments - We specially thank “La Maricoltura Alghero s.n.c.” fish farm for fundamentally
logistic and technical support.
References
DIAZ LOPEZ B., BERNAL SHIRAI J.A. (2007) - Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) presence
and incidental capture in a marine fish farm on the north-eastern coast of Sardinia (Italy). J. Mar.
Biol. Assoc. U.K., 87: 113-117.
DIAZ LOPEZ B., MARINI L., POLO F. (2005) - The impact of a fish farm on a bottlenose dolphin
population in the Mediterranean Sea. Thalassas, 21 (2): 65-70.
UNEP/MAP/MED POL (2004) - Mariculture in the Mediterranean. MAP Technical Reports Series.
Athens: UNEP/MAP, 140: 1-80.
WATSON-CAPPS J.J., MANN J. (2005) - The effects of aquaculture on bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops
sp.) ranging in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Biol. Conserv., 124 (4): 519-526.
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