Palma.—The lives and well being of 500 Common Bottle Nose Dolphins which swim in Balearic waters are at risk, a study carried out by the University of Barcelona confirmed yesterday.
The tourism boom experienced over the past few years, fishing boats and the increase in the number of ferries connecting the islands with the peninsula pose a serious risk to the survival of the mammals.
Noise pollution
According to Joan Gonzalvo, who led the study, they took into account the dolphins’ behavioural patterns during the Spring and Summer, periods when the dolphins are most at risk to the dangers of collisions with boats, for example, while the amount of noise generated by the ferries confuses them and affects their behavior.