Dolphins increasingly rely on trawlers for food in overfished Adriatic, say scientists
Summary
Scientists found that bottlenose dolphins in the Adriatic Sea are increasingly following fishing boats called trawlers to find food because natural fish are scarce due to heavy fishing. Baby dolphins learn this behavior from their mothers, but feeding near trawlers can be risky and harmful for dolphins.Key Facts
- Dolphins follow trawlers to eat leftover or discarded fish because natural food is hard to find.
- Overfishing in the Mediterranean Sea is twice the level considered sustainable by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
- In the 1990s, about 10% of trawlers were followed by dolphins; recent studies show up to 76% of trawlers are now followed.
- Dolphins may get injured by fishing gear and suffer hearing damage from noisy trawlers.
- Baby dolphins learn to follow trawlers by watching their mothers, passing this behavior from one generation to the next.
- The Adriatic Sea has lost many common dolphins, a sign of environmental decline.
- Scientists urge reducing fishing and using less harmful fishing methods to help dolphins find natural food again.
- The study was published in the journal Frontiers and involved researchers from Italy and the US.
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