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09/16: Current status and trends of the common dolphin in the Mediterranean Sea

Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)

The proceedings of the workshop organized by ODO, BICREF and OceanCare in April 2016 on the short‐beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis are now available online

The short-beaked common dolphin was considered the most abundant cetacean species in the Mediterranean. Currently, its abundance is in steep decline throughout the central and eastern . In 2003 the Mediterranean short-beaked common dolphin ‘subpopulation’ was listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals, based on criterion A2, which refers to a 50% decline in abundance over the last three generations, the causes of which ‘may not have ceased or may not be understood or may not be reversible’.

Updated information on its occurrence, distribution, habitat use or social organization in the Mediterranean Sea remains largely unknown and fairly sparse, with little published data. In order to promote greater participation in international dialogue and scientific knowledge exchange (even not yet published) on Mediterranean common dolphin, by doing so, to strengthen both the scientific and conservational effort on the species, Oceanomare Delphis Onlus (ODO) and Biology Conservation Research Foundation (BICREF), together with OceanCare, have jointly organized the 1st International Workshop “Conservation and research networking on short beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in the Mediterranean Sea” in Ischia Island, Italy, from 13 to 15 April 2016, with the support of RAC/SPA.

The proceedings of the workshop are now available online and can be downloaded here.