Whake watching and characterization on the south coast of Gran Canaria

UNIVERSITY OF LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA WHALE WATCHING AND CHARACTERIZATION ON THE SOUTH COAST OF GRAN CANARIA Paula Lizarza Pecoraro Marine Science Degree Professor Ricardo J. Haroun Tabraue, Biology Department of ULPGC Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain FINAL GRADUATION WORK (Degree), June 2015 Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................2 1.1. Natura 2000 ..................................................................................................................6 1.2. Tourist observation of cetaceans...................................................................................7 1.3. General characteristics of cetaceans ...........................................................................11 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS .......................................................................................13 2.1. Study Area ..................................................................................................................13 2.2. Data Collection ...........................................................................................................19 3. RESULTS ..........................................................................................................................20 3.1. SPECIES SIGHTED ......................................................................................................20 3.1.1. Marine Mammals: Odontoceti, Chordata, Delphinidae ..........................................20 3.1.1.1. Rought-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) ..................................................20 3.1.1.2. Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) .........................................................22 3.1.1.3. Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) ...................................................24 3.1.1.4. Common dolphin (Delphinus ssp.) .................................................................26 3.1.1.4.1. Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) .......................................27 3.1.1.5. Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) .........................................................29 3.1.1.6. Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus).................................................................34 3.1.1.7. Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) ...............................36 3.1.2. Marine Mammals: Odontoceti, Chordata, Physeteridae ..........................................39 3.1.2.1. Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) .........................................................39 3.1.3. Marine Mammals: Mysticeti, Chordata, Balaenopteridae .......................................43 3.1.3.1. Rorquals (Balaenoptera ssp.)..........................................................................43 3.1.3.1.1. Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei / edeni) ..................................................44 4. CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................50 5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................................51 6. REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................51 Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 2 Figure 1. The whales observed in these photographs were taken on the Canary Islands by The Society for the Study of Cetaceans in the Canarian Archipelago (SECAC), 2012 ABSTRACT On the basis of an extensive work of bibliographic documentation, supplemented by a work of field research in the area of study (watching and direct participation in the activity), in the present work aims to provide the basic information for understanding the current situation of cetaceans on the south coast of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain, between July on 2013 and March on 2014 (the months of February and March of 2014 correspond to my work of field research in the area of study). There will be a guide to the species that integrate the sector of the large whales, analyzing their specific characteristics, its distribution, its degree of protection… Key words: characterization, whale watching, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands 1. INTRODUCTION One of the main obstacles for the research of cetaceans is the difficulty to study these animals in the marine environment. The campaigns of research at sea are extremely expensive and logistically difficult. This is one of the principal causes of the current poor state of our knowledge of cetacean populations in the most of the seas. Fortunately, the need to climb of these animals to the surface to breathe and the important activity at the surface of many marine species make possible the observation from boats or even aircraft (Cañadas & Sagarminaga, 2000). Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 3 It has carried out an extensive literature review of available information (published in scientific journals, books, presentations at conferences, meetings, reports…) on cetaceans, with special incidence on the species of our marine environment. At present, in the Strait of Gibraltar (along with the Alboran sea) and in the Canary Islands, can be found the greatest diversity of species of marine mammals of the Spanish coast. These two geographic areas are also considered as the most traveled by boat. A particular case are the boats that are dedicated to the whale watching, where the Canary Islands is one of the first places in the world in terms of the number of watchers (Stephanis et al., 2000). The demarcation of the Canary Islands has a complex oceanography. The Canary Islands are located in the Northeast Atlantic, between 27º-29º N and 14º-18º W, near the African west coast, at about 100km away from the same. The Archipelago consists of seven major islands, four smaller islets and numerous rocky outcrops. The islands are arranged longitudinally along 450km. It is a volcanic origin archipelago that emerges directly from the ocean platform consisting of seven islands: two oriental (Lanzarote and Fuerteventura), two central (Gran Canaria and Tenerife) and three westerners (La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro), as well as several islets and roques. The islands have a land surface area of 7,490km² and 1,501km of coastline, the land surface and lenght of coastline varies in the different islands (Stephanis et al., 2000; Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). The Canary Islands are situated halfway between the temperate and subtropical area, being included in the biogeographical region coastal marine atlanto-mediterranean, as well as the subregion of the Macaronesia, a situation which it shares with the archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira, Salvajes, Cabo Verde and a small strip of coastline that extends from the south of Marruecos to the north of the Sahara south-west (coastal strip from the south of Marruecos to the northern boundary of the Sahara to the east). It also forms part of the area of the Atlantic oceanographic center-east, a region internationally defined by FAO for statistical purposes-fishery and whose limits are established by the 36º north latitude and 6ºsouth latitude (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). From an oceanographic point of view, the Canary Islands are a región of great interest due to the interaction of different phenomena: the upwelling off the Africa coast, the cold Canary Current (Figure 2), waves and trade winds. The combination of these phenomena creates a complex mosaic of environments throughout the archipelago, with peculiarities in the physical-chemical conditions of its waters. These facts cool the waters of the archipelago that otherwise would have higher temperatures in relation to the latitude. The waters of the archipelago are situated on the eastern limit of the North Atlantic subtropical gyre, occupying an intermediate position between the rich cold upwelling waters of the northwest African coast and the warm and oligotrophic waters of the open ocean, giving rise to the so-called Transitional Coastal Zone (J. J. Alvarado-Barrientos & F. A. SolisFigura 2. Cold Canary Current. STRAMMA Image. (1984). Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 4 Marin, 2012). The surface seawater temperature ranges from minimum values of 17-19ºC in AprilMarch to maximum values of around 23-25ºC in September-October. This surface temperature regime is slightly cooler than expected at the islands’ latitude in the Atlantic Ocean. This is due to the cold Canary Current and the upwelling of the African coast (J. J. Alvarado-Barrientos & F. A. Solis-Marin, 2012). The upwelling of the nearby African coast has its origin in the action of trade winds from the northeast over the northwestern coast of Africa. This causes, following Ekman’s theory, the emergence of deep waters perpendicular to the direction of the winds and towards the archipelago. Upwelled seawater is colder, lower in salinity and richer in nutrients compared to surface water. The incidence of this phenomenon over the archipelago has an important spatial and temporal variation. The eastern islands, the closest to it up-welling, are more affected by this process. Its influencce on central and western islands is less and mainly due to the incidence of the so-called upwelling filaments. Temporally, upwelling is more regular in those months when the trade winds are more intense and constant (J. J. Alvarado-Barrientos & F. A. Solis-Marin, 2012). The cold Canary Current, which flows NNE-SSW, is a branch of the Gulf Current, a cyclonic system of currents that carries warm waters from the Caribbean Sea to the northeast Atlantic Ocean. As it crosses the Bay of Biscay, this current begins to cool, becoming a cold current when it reaches the Canaries. The average speed of this current is 0.1-0.2ms-1, but undergoes major seasonal changes reaching minimum values of 0.025ms-1 in summer. Each island acts as a barrier during the flow of the current throughout the archipelago. This causes changes in speed and creates mesoscale phenomena such as cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies that produce sinking and upwelling events of small amounts of waters, and downstream warm wakes in the south and southwest regions of some islands (J. J. Alvarado-Barrientos & F. A. Solis-Marin, 2012). The different interactions of upwelling and, to a lesser extent, of the cold current of the Canary Islands along the archipelago creates a gradient in temperature (≈ 2ºC), salinity, nutrients and primary production between the eastern and western islands (Figure 3). In this way, the waters of the eastern islands have more affinity to the waters of the temperature regions, while those of the western islands are more similar to the waters of the tropics (J. J. Alvarado-Barrientos & F. A. Solis-Marin, 2012). Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 5 Figure 3. Sea surface temperature (SST) map of the Canarian Archipelago and surrounding area. Source Dr. Antonio García Ramos, Departamento de Biolgía de la ULPGC (J. J. Alvarado-Barrientos & F. A. Solis-Marin, 2012). The results obtained to date indicate that in the context of the canary island archipelago, the waters are a point of extraordinary diversity of cetaceans, with 29 species recorded (SECAC, Society for the Study of Cetaceans in the Canarian Archipelago), representing a unique habitat and differentiated from the rest of the islands due to its geographical location, close to the neighboring African coast, to its depth and to the special oceanographic conditions that increases the productivity of these, which gives it to the sea surface an undeniable biological interest and for the conservation of these species: "This diversity is due to a combination of factors among which it should be noted the geographical location of the archipelago, the oceanographic phenomena and the nature of oceanic islands, that favors the approximation of ocean species of habits. Thus, it is possible to find species of environments warm-temperate (the most numerous) along with elements of more northerly latitudes as the long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) or the northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) that can reach the islands under the influence of the cold current of the Canary Islands, or those of pantropical distribution as the Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) or the rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis). In any case, a common characteristic and interesting of the cetaceans of the Canary Islands are the oceanic nature that already includes taxa that are poorly globally known as the beaked whales and certain oceanic dolphins (Martin, V & Urquiola, E, in press)" (Stephanis et al., 2000; Martin, 2012). The archipelago of the canary islands is a place of global interest by the richness and diversity of cetaceans present in its waters, which have been cited 29 cetacean species, belonging to 7 families, which is 34.5% of the 87 described species in the planet, what makes the Canary Islands one of the regions with the greatest diversity of cetaceans in the North Atlantic. The majority are ocean species, little known and representative of Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 6 the Macaronesian region. It is, in fact, the only point of the Spanish territory where it is possible to observe, on a regular basis, some of them such as the short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), the rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), the Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis), the Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni), the blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), the gervais' beaked whale (Mesoplodon europaeus) or the dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima). These species are: 1) exclusive of the Macaronesian on Spanish territory, 2) have a regular presence in the Canary Islands, 3) are resident populations, 4) the waters of the archipelago are part of their migratory routes or are part of seasonal movements best known as in the case of the bryde's whale, 5) are threatened species due to human activity and 6) we know very little about the status of their populations (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012; Martin, 2012). This diversity is due to a combination of factors including the geographical location of the archipelago, the oceanographic phenomena and the nature of oceanic islands that favors the approximation of ocean species of habits. Here can also appear whale species of environments warm-temperate (the most numerous), along with elements of more northerly latitudes or those of pantropical distribution (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). In the canary archipelago there are areas of special interest for these marine mammals. Special Areas of Conservation (SACs / ZECs) declared on the basis of the presence of resident populations of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), the majority located in the southwestern areas of the main islands, are a point where at the same time can be seen a high diversity of cetaceans. The oceanic nature of the archipelagic waters makes them a suitable habitat for species of cetaceans of deep diving. In this regard, it is worth mentioning, by studied, the waters of El Hierro and the east of the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. The apparent availability of prey would explain the presence of a community of predators and deep diving with different strategies for diving and feeding as the cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), the gervais' beaked whale (Mesoplodon europaeus), the blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), common sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), the pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps), the dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima), Risso's (Grampus griseus) and the finned whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus). This importance is based around the frequency, to the diversity of species found, to the presence of animals living in the area over several years, the importance of this sector of sea for breeding, feeding and the conservation of these species in the Canary archipelago (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). 1.1. Natura 2000 Natura 2000 is the most important European initiative on biodiversity conservation and natural habitats, and in favor of the sustainable use of natural resources. This European ecological network is built on the basis of the Birds Directive (79/409/CEE) and the Habitats Directive (92/43/CEE) (Elejabeitia, 2010). The Habitat Directive imposes the need to establish appropriate conservation measures in the places in the network "to avoid (...) the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species..." (art. 6.2). Establishes the need to assess the impact of the activities or projects developed in them and define and adopt precautionary Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 7 compensatory. Refers to different types of measures (statutory, administrative or contractual) and argues the participatory nature of the management (Elejabeitia, 2010). The Natura 2000 (Figure 4) consists of spaces that have been proposed by the respective member states on the basis of the existence of certain habitats or the presence of species, which require special measures of protection due to its high meaning. The proposed areas are referred to as "Sites of Community Importance” (SCI / LIC) and "Special Protected Areas for Birds” (SPAB / ZEPA), after take part of the network, under the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), after approval of your corresponding Management Plan (Elejabeitia, 2010). Figure 4. SAC areas of the Natura 2000 in the Canary Islands. Source: European Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/sites_hab/biogeog_regions/maps/canarias. pdf) Of the 174 spaces proposed by the government of the canary islands for the Natura 2000, 27 are of marine sector. Of these, 15 have been declared on the basis of the existence of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and/or loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), species that is considered "priority" (Elejabeitia, 2010). 1.2. Tourist observation of cetaceans The Canary Islands have a privileged natural resource: marine mammals, which constitute, along with the rest of the animal and plant species, a natural and cultural heritage that has to be preserved, and is also an excellent resource to raise awareness of the importance of the marine environment and its conservation and knowledge (Urquiola, 1996). The observation of cetaceans for tourism purposes (Figure 5), also known as "whalewatching" is a phenomenon that has undergone a considerable momentum throughout the world since the late fifties, fruit of the growing interest of the public toward nature tourism and toward these marine mammals. This tourist industry is a booming business Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 8 in several coastal regions of the planet with a range of spectacular growth in the last 10 or 15 years. On the other hand, in recent years there has been increasing concern over the potential impact of the activity in cetacean populations. The activity of observation of cetaceans in the Canary Islands began in the West coast of Tenerife at the end of the decade of the eighties, after the discovery of a population of short finned pilot whales (G. Macrorhynchus), experiencing a rapid development from this date. This growth has not been the same for all the islands. While most of the operators are located in the western sectors of the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, in other islands such as La Gomera and La Palma, the activity is confined to a few boats. Thus, for example, the number of licensed boats and passenger-carrying capacity, estimated by Elejabeitia and Urquiola in 2009, for the year 2008, goes from the 26 vessels and 2,356 passengers in Tenerife to a boat and 53 passengers in La Palma respectively. Gran Canaria has a fleet of 7 boats and a capacity for 668 passengers and La Gomera has 3 boats with capacity for 124 passengers. Thus, of the 37 boats with license in the Canary Islands in the year 2008, the island of Tenerife owned 70% of the boats, the 65% of the operators and 70% of the passenger-carrying capacity of this industry in the archipelago. In relation to the direct income generated by this activity, Elejabeitia and Urquiola (2009) estimate a total of 19.8 million euros in 2008. However, one of the characteristics of this industry in the islands, is that it suffers slight fluctuations in the number of vessels and the passenger-carrying capacity of one year to another. Also, there is a marked difference in the type of boats used to perform this tourist activity, while in Tenerife and Gran Canaria the fleet is mainly constituted by catamarans with a great capacity for passengers, the island of La Gomera use old wooden boats of artisanal fishing adapted to the cetacean observation. The factors that have contributed to the growth of this tourism activity in the archipelago are: 1) The diversity of cetaceans, especially of resident species such as the short-finned pilot whale (G. Macrorhynchus) and the bottlenose dolphin (T. truncatus); 2) a fast access to the target species that, in the case of the coast of Tenerife SW, is an average of 10 minutes since the craft leaves port; 3) The existence of favorable climatic conditions most of the year. All the ports from where they leave these boats are in areas of calm, to be protected most of the year by the trade winds; 4) Existence of several port infrastructure within an area, especially in the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria; 5) The existence of an established tourism industry in the southwestern areas of the main islands. One important feature of the cetacean’s observation in the Canary Islands, is that this activity, as well as the nautical infrastructure where boats leave are in Special Areas of Conservation (SACS's) marine of the Natura 2000 of the European Union. These areas (as we have seen newly), located in the southwestern areas of the islands and protected from the prevailing winds by the relief of the main islands, are characterized by a high diversity of cetaceans in a sea surface relatively small. In these SAC's attending various human activities, especially in the south of Tenerife, Gran Canaria and to a lesser extent, La Gomera. The target species vary from one island to another. SW in the coast of Tenerife is the short-finned pilot whale (G. Macrorhynchus) and secondarily the bottlenose dolphin (T. truncatus). In the islands of Gran Canaria, La Gomera and La Palma, the activity is focused in several species, with the most frequent atlantic spotted dolphin (S. Frontalis) (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 15 Document 1. Special Area of Conservation (SAC) of the Municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, the marine strip of Mogán, within the Natura 2000 of the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/CEE of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora) with code SCI IS7010017. For this project, I have enclosed the Table 1 to report on the sightings sheet (which is recommended take in each sighting). It is a series of data that give adjusted information Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 16 and, at the same time, extensive, on the sightings of cetaceans incurred. Listed below is some simple definitions for each of the data included in the tab of detailed sightings. DATA DEFINITION Center The entity that belongs to the research group that performs the sighting. Contact Person Person to represent the entity before the ULPGC Date Day / Month / Year of sighting Species Scientific name of the species observed. Time start / end Exact time of the contact from 00:00 to 23:59 local time Latitude Latitude of the contact position in degrees, minutes and hundredths of minute of latitude North Length Length of the contact position in degrees, minutes and hundredths of minute East longitude (E) or West (W) Speed Speed of cetaceans in knots. Visibility Visibility of the air: 0: Fog 1: Visibility less than 1 nautical mile 2: Visibility between 1 and 3 nautical miles 3: Visibility between 3 and 5 nautical miles 4: Visibility between 5 and 10 nautical miles 5: Improved visibility to 10 nautical miles Sea State of the sea in the scale Douglas (Table 2) Wind direction Wind direction as the wind rose: N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW Wind force Force of the wind 0 to 12 on the Beaufort scale (Table 3) Distance Approximate Calculation of the distance between the platform and the whale or group of cetaceans observed, in meters. Costa Distance in nautical miles between the position of contact and the stretch of coastline nearest. Depth Depth in meters in the contact position. Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 17 Temperature of the water Temperature of the surface water at the time and position of contact, in degrees Celsius with a decimal point. Propulsion Propulsion of the platform: - M: engine - V: sailing - R: rowing SOCIAL STRUCTURE Cohesion Group Cohesion (between individuals or subgroups): - L: isolated individual - MC (group very compact): the animals are at a distance of not more than a body from each other. - C (compact group): the animals are at a distance of 5 bodies from each other. - D (dispersed group): the animals are at distances between 5 and 10 bodies from each other. - MD (group very dispersed): the animals are at greater distances to 10 bodies from each other. Minimum group size Minimum number of individuals counted (minimum of the estimate for the size of the group), during the time of maximum group size observed during the sighting. Can be considered as minimum size estimated the total number of animals counted at the same time on the surface. Maximum group size Maximum number of individuals counted during the sighting (maximum size estimation group). Can be considered as a maximum size estimated the total number of animals counted on surface for 10 seconds (so you don't give yourself time to the same individual to leave twice, but if several individuals exit consecutively). Nº of adults If it is possible to distinguish, number of adult individuals (90-100% of the adult size) Nº of offspring Number of offspring (50-75% of the adult size) GENERAL BEHAVIOR General behavior of cetaceans during the sighting. It is considered the most observed behavior during the entire duration of the sighting. The boat Relationship of the cetaceans in the platform: - I (indifference): do not seem to be affected by the presence of the platform and do not alter their behavior. Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 18 - E (elusive): circumventing visibly the proximity of the platform. - A (approach): come to the platform. Activity More general activity observed during the entire sighting: - N (swimming): the animals are moving, in swimming continues. - R (rest): do not move and are very quiet in surface with little activity. - RE (lazy): move to slow or medium speed, without specific direction and without any synchronicity. - SO (socializing): there are a lot of games and interactions between individuals. - AL (eating or in search of food): they were seen at the time of power, in the vicinity of dams, with long dives synchronised, rapid movements in zigzag, persecution of surface fish… Address Direction of movement of the cetaceans, if you are moving, in degrees of 0º to 359º. Table 1. Tab for collecting information about sightings of cetaceans used in this work (Verme & Iannacone, 2011). DOUGLAS SEA SCALE DEGREE HEIGHT (m) DESCRIPTION 0 0 Calm (Glassy) 1 0 to 0.1 Calm (Rippled) 2 0.1 to 0.5 Smooth 3 0.5 to 1.25 Slight 4 1.25 to 2.5 Moderate 5 2.5 to 4 Rough 6 4 to 6 Very Rough 7 6 to 9 High 8 9 to 14 Very High 9 Over 14 Phenomenal Table 2: Scale Douglas for the sea state. BEAUFORT NUMBER WIND SPEED (mph) NAME MAXIMUM WAVE HEIGHT (meters) 0 Under 1 Calm 0 1 1-3 Light Air 0.1 2 4-7 Light Breeze 0.2 To 0.4 3 8-12 Gentle Breeze 0.5 To 1 4 13-18 Moderate Breeze 1 To 1.5 5 19-24 Fresh Breeze 1.6 To 2.5 6 25-31 Strong Breeze 2.6 To 4 7 32-38 Moderate Gale 4 To 5.5 Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 19 8 39-46 Fresh Gale 5.5 To 7.5 9 47-54 Strong Gale 7 To 10 10 55-63 Whole Gale 9 To 12.5 11 64-72 Storm 11.5 To 16 12 73 or higher Hurricate Force More than 14 Table 3. Beaufort scale for the force of the wind. The basis of common data on sightings of cetaceans has been created in Microsoft Excel 2010, this will be a versatile database, easy to use and very widespread. The purpose of the creation of this database is to have a common basis, with a common format and structure, in which all researchers wishing to do so can provide a series of data to facilitate the exchange and cooperation between different scientific and/or research groups. 2.2. Data Collection Data collection is carried out through sightings recorded since the 28th July 2013 by the Spirit of the Sea, and ends with the collection of information from the month of February until March of 2014. The hours on the high seas fluctuate between 10:00h and 14:30h, always depending on the number of tourists for the realization of the output once sighted cetaceans that decreased the speed and approached the boat in parallel or in tip up to a distance between 20m and 60m. Sometimes, animals were approaching and swam in the proa ("bow riding"). It was always not disrupt them, avoiding that the boat divided the group of cetaceans that entered the means, or the boat maneuvered to get closer to the group behind so as not to disturb their behavior, as also mentioned in the studies of Verme & Iannacone (2011). The research methodology employed is the basic information obtained in each encounter. Once a whale or a group of cetaceans is detected, is suspended the search effort and begins the collection of data of a sighting. We take the basic data such as time, the position, the kind of effort, the distance from the group detected, species, analysis of animal behavior, initial speed, a provision of the group, reaction to the boat, etc. The supplementary information that is recorded includes: initial relative speed, course, cohesion-training of the animals in the group... (Martin, 2012). This information will help in the future to help in the conservation of cetaceans, but it should be taken into account that may vary slightly between boundaries depending on the characteristics of the habitat that allow each species use a geographic area for feeding, playing… (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012) Dolphins are very sociable animals, and in these social gatherings are wounds or marks between them. Many brands, very common in the bodies of the dolphins, are produced with the teeth and leaves a pattern of stripes very useful for your individual identification. Another type of marks are by shark attacks. The sharks are their natural predators, and it is not uncommon to observe with marks or injuries caused by a failed attack by a shark. The marks are also produced by the coalition with the engines of the ships entering and leaving the different ports of the area. They have also been found dolphins with problems by fungi in the skin that create a pattern of identification only. Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 20 The identification of individual dolphins by natural markings on the dorsal fin was first used in cetaceans by the Caldwells in the 50s and the Wursigs in the 70s. After it has been used in the identification of many species such as the humpback whale, orcas, right whales among others. Wursing & Wursing (1977) calculated that the dolphins could be identified at the individual level by the markings on their dorsal fins. The edges of the dorsal fins of the dolphins, are very easily mistreated, that is why there are brands that are specific to each dolphin, which identifies each individual and are recorded in a database (Verme & Iannacone, 2011). 3. RESULTS 3.1. SPECIES SIGHTED I have identified 9 species that can usually be found in the south-southwest coast of Gran Canaria: Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus), Short-Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), Short-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis), Rough-Toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis), Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis), Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and Bryde’s Whale (Pseudorca crassidens). In total there were 287 sightings from the 28 July 2013 until 31 March 2014. In 2013 were 174 days in which the sightings were made and in 2014 were 113 days. The average number of cetacean sightings registered per month was 29 cetaceans in the 2013 and 38 cetaceans in 2014. The frequency of re-sightings was high, being the most common that a dolphin is re-sighted between 2 and 9 times. Then we will describe the main characteristics of the 9 species recorded. 3.1.1. Marine Mammals: Odontoceti, Chordata, Delphinidae 3.1.1.1. Rought-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) Biology and Ecology: We are dealing with a species (Figure 11) which chooses the deep waters away from the coast (Figure 12), where he lives in small groups of less than 50 individuals (Figure 13). They usually remain little time on the surface, approaching quite to coast (Figure 14). It is a species (Figure 15) little known, but it is known to feed on fish and deep-sea cephalopods. Their dives hovering around the 15 min of duration and, sometimes, accompanies the boats next to their bows. Its appearance/activity is diurnal, often seen frolicking in the summer and can be seen from boats, as is in my case (Espino et al. 2006). Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 21 Figure 11. Visual identification and characteristics of the species of Rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis). Present vertical grooves in the teeth. With age, the lips become white. The eyes are large in size, in comparison with the rest of dolphins. Males and females have a similar size (Espino et al. 2006). Figure 12. Zonal location and/or type of deep. The yellow dot in the picture tells us that is located in open waters (Pelagos), with type of fund fetch embattle (Espino et al. 2006). Figure 13. They swim in very compact formations, characteristic of the groups with a very small spacing between individuals (Espino et al. 2006). Photo taken from the boat Spirit of the Sea. Figure 14. Distribution of the species in the Canarian archipelago. The visit of the species is occasional in the islands (Espino et al. 2006), it cannot be considered as abundant in the Canary Islands, despite the marked presence of their populations, particularly in the western islands (Inventory of the Cetaceans of the Canaries, implementation of the Directive 92/43/CEE) (Stephanis et al., 2000). Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 22 Figure 15. Rough-toothed dolphin: photo taken from the boat Spirit of the Sea. In the summer is approaching the coast to give birth to their offspring (Espino et al. 2006). Special protection regime: (Table 4). Here we can find species worthy of a particular care and protection in function of its scientific value, ecological and cultural uniqueness, rarity, or degree of threat, argued and scientifically justifiable; as well as the one listed as protected in the annexes to council directives and the international conventions ratified by Spain, and that to fulfill these conditions are incorporated into the listing (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Those are taxa that, in spite of not being endangered neither be of special interest within the ecological areas of the Canary Network of Protected Natural Spaces, are worthy of special attention in any part of the territory canary by its scientific value, ecological and cultural or by its rarity and uniqueness. 3.1.1.2. Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) Biology and Ecology: Striped dolphin (Figure 16) is distributed worldwide in a range from tropical to warm temperatures. It prefers shallow water (Figure 17) of temperatures of between 18 ºC and 25ºC. The majority of the searches are below 43 °N to 15 °S (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Figure 16. Visual Identification and characteristics of the species Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) (Espino et al. 2006). Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 23 Figure 17. Zonal location and/or type of deep. The yellow dot in the picture tells us that is located in open waters (Pelagos), with type of fund fetch embattle (Espino et al. 2006). It has wide and continues distribution throughout the year, in all the islands except in Fuerteventura (Figure 18) (Inventory of the Cetaceans of the Canaries, application of the Directive 92/43/CEE) (Stephanis et al., 2000). Figure 18. Distribution of the species in the Canarian archipelago. It is common in the western islands and abundant in the eastern islands (Espino et al. 2006). It feeds on fish and cephalopods. Its appearance/activity is during daylight. Observable from craft (Figure 19), as it is in my case (Espino et al. 2006). Figure 19. Striped dolphin: photo taken from the boat Spirit of the Sea. You can locate throughout the year (Espino et al. 2006). Large groups (Figure 20) of very active nature, from between 100 and 500 members, reaching up to 3,000 (Espino et al. 2006). Figure 20. Striped dolphin: This is a gregarious species that form groups segregated by age and sex. The main potential benefits of forming herds are presumably the reduction of the impact produced by the predators and the increase of efficiency in the Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 24 capture of food (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Photo taken from the boat Spirit of the Sea. It is a fast swimmer and can perform spectacular stunts (Figure 21), such as skipping up to 7m. It tends to be alarmed more easily than other dolphins (Espino et al. 2006). Figure 21. Striped dolphin: photo taken from the boat Spirit of the Sea. Special protection regime: (Table 4). It is a species worthy of a particular care and protection in function of its scientific value, ecological and cultural uniqueness, rarity, or degree of threat, argued and scientifically justifiable; as well as the one listed as protected in the annexes to council directives and the international conventions ratified by Spain, and that to fulfill these conditions are incorporated into the listing (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Those are taxa that, in spite of not being endangered neither be of special interest within the ecological areas of the Canary Network of Protected Natural Spaces, are worthy of special attention in any part of the territory canary by its scientific value, ecological and cultural or by its rarity and uniqueness. This species tends to travel along to tuna, so that it falls into the purse seine nets, that usually cause thousands of deaths annually. In addition, it is hunted specified by the Japanese industry, which represents its biggest threat (Espino et al. 2006). 3.1.1.3. Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) Biology and Ecology: The Atlantic spotted dolphin (Figure 22) has oceanic habits. It is usually spotted and has preference to a depth of between 600 and 900m (Figure 23). It is a very active species in surface, forming very large groups (Figure 24), hundreds of specimens, remain the exclusive domain of the waters of the Atlantic. It feeds on fish and cephalopods (Espino et al. 2006). Figure 22. Visual identification and characteristics of the species Atlantic spotted dolphin. You can submit several forms, depending on whether they are habits or coastal Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 31 Figure 36. Distribution of the bottlenose dolphin in the Canary Islands (Stephanis et al., 2000). Figure 37. The distribution of the species in the Canary archipelago is frequent in the islands. (Espino et al. 2006). It is distributed throughout the archipelago, with greater intensity in Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. The relationship of beachings is concentrated mainly in Tenerife, data representative of tremendous pressure that is subject in the waters of the south of the island (Inventory of the Cetaceans of the Canaries, application of the Directive 92/43/CEE). In addition, recent studies on the populations of bottlenose dolphins by Vidal Martin and Manuel Carrillo in the framework of a project of the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Environment and the Faculty of Marine Science at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria program funded by a European LIFE, also show that there are populations of bottlenose dolphins living in this area of the south west of Tenerife, as west of Gran Canaria and in the area of La Isleta (NE) (Stephanis et al., 2000). The publication that the Viceministry of Environment of the Canary Islands Government has edited in september of 2000, after completion of the project of bottlenose dolphins, drawn up by Vidal Martin, Manuel Carrillo and Luis Felipe Lopez Jury, refers to this person household: "The dolphin (Figure 38), as it is known in the Canary Islands, lies throughout the year in the waters of the archipelago and, until not long ago, it was frequent glimpse from the coast. The abundance of food, the calmer waters most of the year and the low presence of their major predators - sharks - are factors that might be behind that the dolphins have chosen the Canary Islands as a suitable habitat to reproduce and move forward to their offspring" (Stephanis et al., 2000). Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 32 Figure 38. Bottlenose dolphin: photo taken from the boat Spirit of the Sea. Range and distribution patterns: In the canary archipelago there are several marine areas recently designated as Special Areas of Conservation (Figure 39) by the presence of the species. Five of them represent an important habitat area such as feeding and breeding. Preliminary studies reflect some structuring in the population. There is no published information on parameters of the populations of the species in these SAC. The bottlenose dolphin occupies a wide variety of marine habitats, ranging from shallow waters up to the ocean. It is distributed in the temperate waters, warm, subtropical and tropical of all the oceans, although normally does not exceed the 45º latitude in both hemispheres; pelagic and coastal environments (Figure 40), including bays and tidales areas between 60ºN and 50°S of the equator and in the Mediterranean Sea (Verme & Iannacone, 2011). It has been diversified with considerable success, occupying almost all marine habitats. This flexibility has favored the existence of geographical forms. The bottlenose dolphin is present throughout the year in the Canary Islands, forming small populations closely linked to certain coastal sectors of some islands (Figure 41), frequently on funds that do not exceed the 600m depth, making it difficult to observe the channels that exist between the islands. Preliminary studies of the SECAC seem to reflect some structuring in the population of T. truncatus in the Canary Islands, which confirmed, would imply that the populations of bottlenose dolphins from each SAC should be considered as independent units of conservation strategies (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Figure 39. SAC to Natura 2000 on the basis of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and areas with offer authorized of TAC (2009). Source: Viceministry of Environment of the Government of the Canary Islands. Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 33 Figure 40. Zonal location and/or type of deep. The yellow dot in the picture tells us that is located in open waters (Pelagos), with type of fund fetch embattle (Espino et al. 2006). Figure 41. Observations of bottlenose dolphins in the Canary Islands by the SECAC (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Population Size / Population abundance: There are no estimates of abundance of this species in the Canary Islands. A study is currently being carried out of photo identification of the material collected during the sea campaigns of the SECAC. Preliminary results indicate that several individuals reside in the islands over a number of years and that there is a degree of movement between the islands. This species is found in the Canary waters throughout the year (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Population status: There is no information on the biology of this species in the Canary Islands. It is currently being carried out in an analysis of the information on this species in the Canary archipelago collected by the SECAC that provide information on the number and structure of the groups contacted, the identity of the population, residence, movements and an estimated minimum of the size of the population in the areas of special conservation of the Canary Islands (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 34 SECAC: The bottlenose dolphin is listed as "Vulnerable" in the National Catalog of Endangered Species and is found in the annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive. In the canary archipelago there are several marine areas designated as Special Areas of Conservation by the presence and residence of the species. Five of them, located in the southwestern areas of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro, which represent an important habitat areas such as feeding and breeding (Martin, 2012). Vulnerable: (Table 4). Taxa or populations (species present in the Canary Islands and that it is included in the same category in the Spanish Catalog of Threatened Species) that are at risk of danger of extinction in the immediate future if adverse factors that act on them are not corrected (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). It is strictly protected in European waters. It should be noted, the proposal recommended areas to be declared SCIs (Sites of Community Interest) which includes the northeast area of Gran Canaria (area of Agaete) as an important area of distribution for bottlenose dolphin. This is significant that it is an area that is crossed by the path of fast ferries that link Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Also in Gran Canaria has been determined the marine strip of Mogan (the SW), such as area SCI (ES 7020037), by be area of distribution of the bottlenose dolphin and area crossed by high-speed vessels as jet foils (Stephanis et al., 2000). 3.1.1.6. Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) Biology and Ecology: The Risso’s dolphin (Figure 42) opt for deep ocean water and the areas of the continental slope, and may also appear near the coast, in areas with narrow-deck and around oceanic islands (Figure 43), as is the case of the Canary Islands. It is frequently observe semi-submerged, in a vertical position, with the caudal fin out of the water. Its appearance/activity is during daylight. It can be seen from boats, as is in my case. You can locate throughout the year; especially in the winter and spring (Espino et al. 2006). Figure 42. Visual Identification and characteristics of the species Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus). The scars on the body increases with age and are the result of struggles/bites of their fellow human beings or of cephalopods of large dimensions, which is fed (Espino et al. 2006). Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 35 Figure 43. Zonal location and/or type of deep. The yellow dot in the picture tells us that is located in open waters (Pelagos), with type of fund fetch embattle (Espino et al. 2006). Diet and selection of their prey: The diet of the Risso’s dolphin, as has been seen in the stomachs of animals stranded, is composed mainly of cephalopods meso pelagic species, in particular Histioteuthis squid of the genus that are known to often live in areas between 500 and 1000 meters deep. They are also part of their usual diet some meso pelagic fish (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Risso's dolphin and the bottlenose, are those closest to the coast to the coast in the Canary Islands. This species is found frequently in the NE coast of Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Tenerife (Figure 44), coinciding with the stranding: islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria (Inventory of the Cetaceans of the Canaries, application of the Directive 92/43/CEE) (Stephanis et al., 2000; Espino et al. 2006). Figure 44. Distribution of the species in the Canary archipelago (Espino et al. 2006). Social structure: The typical groups of Risso’s dolphin (Figure 45) are of 3-30 animals, although they have been described as "super-groups" of up to several thousands of animals together in some parts of the world. However, some studies indicate that the groups could be stable, and could consist of individuals associated with family ties (especially females), although this has to be confirmed yet. Usually found in groups not very numerous, in fact, have been observed from solitary individuals up to groups consisting of a maximum of 20 animals, with an estimated average of 4 to 6 animals per group (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Figure 45. Risso’s dolphin: photo taken from the boat Spirit of the Sea. Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 36 Predators: Cetaceans have very few predators, which practically are reduced to sharks, killer whales, false killer whales and human. The importance or magnitude of the predation produced by sharks, killer whales and false killer whales is very difficult to quantify. Although some of the scars (Figure 46) that presents the pilot whales grayscale could be attributed to shark attacks, most of them seem to be due to interactions between individuals of the same species (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Figure 46. Risso’s dolphin: photo taken from the boat Spirit of the Sea. Special protection regime: (Table 4). Species worthy of a particular care and protection in function of its scientific value, ecological and cultural uniqueness, rarity, or degree of threat, argued and scientifically justifiable; as well as the one listed as protected in the annexes to council directives and the international conventions ratified by Spain, and that to fulfill these conditions are incorporated into the listing (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012), are those taxa that, in spite of not being endangered nor be of special interest within the ecological areas of the Canary Network of Protected Natural Spaces if you are worthy of special attention in any part of the territory canary by its scientific value, ecological and cultural or by its rarity and uniqueness. 3.1.1.7. Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) Biology and Ecology: It is one species (Figure 47) of ocean strictly habits that is distributed in the warm and temperate waters of all oceans occupying a wide swath in the tropical and subtropical waters in both hemispheres with a surface temperature from 15 to 18ºC (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 37 Figure 47. Visual Identification and characteristics of the Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) (Espino et al. 2006). It is a social animal that form groups of 8-12 specimens or even up to 30-40. It is usually seen in groups, creeps or resting on the surface, allowing the approach of vessels (Figure 48). In the sea, it is virtually impossible to differentiate the Calderon long-finned. His breath is powerful. They can descend to almost 1,000m and remain submerged for 40 minutes. This specie prefers deep waters, although it may be found near the coast (Figure 49), as is the case in the Canary Islands. Its appearance/activity is during daylight. It is noted from craft (Figure 50), as it is in my case. (Espino et al. 2006). Figure 48. Short-finned pilot whale: photo taken from the boat Spirit of the Sea. Figure 49. Zonal location and/or type of deep. The yellow dot in the picture tells us that are located in open waters (Pelagos), with type of fund fetch embattle (Espino et al. 2006). Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 38 Figure 50. Short-finned pilot whale: photo taken from the boat Spirit of the Sea. There are resident populations, as happens in the archipelagos of Hawaii and the Canary Islands. In the latter, the largest population is located in the waters of the south west of Tenerife, among Christians and Teno tip. It is estimated that this population is formed by 300-400 animals. In some parts of the Canary Islands, their populations are visited almost daily (Figure 51), by companies of "whale-watching", being the archipelago one of the three destinations (Espino et al. 2006). Figure 51. The distribution of the species in the Canary archipelago is more occasional than common in the islands. (Espino et al. 2006). Population Size / Population abundance: There are no estimates of population size. In the Canary Islands, is a species frequently throughout the year, revealing the existence of areas of concentration. The best known is located on the southern slopesouthwest of the island of Tenerife. In the latter, show a relatively localized distribution on funds where the slope gradually descends from 700 to 2,000 meters deep, preferring an average depth of 1,200m. The southwest coast of Tenerife seems to be an important area of food and rest for the species, with calm waters the greater part of the year due to the fact that they have been the ascendancy of the highlights of the island, protecting this fraction of ocean of the dominant regime of trade winds. In the area has been observed different degrees of residence, with herds that are found throughout the year as well as others that can be seen one or more times with gap of several months, since the area can be part of an area of much larger residence and finally those that are spotted on a single occasion and not reappear (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Range and distribution patterns: This species is present throughout the year in the Canary Islands (Figure 52), still areas such as the southwest coast of Tenerife where live several groups throughout the year and where they are objective of an intense industry of observation of cetaceans. The diet is composed exclusively of squid of depth that captures performing fast dives that leads to more than 900 meters (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 39 Figure 52. Observations of tropical Calderon in the Canary Islands by the SECAC (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Population status: As in the case of other cetacean species of this demarcation, are currently being performed the analysis to know the demographic characteristics of this species in the Canary Islands (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Vulnerable: (Table 4). Taxa or populations (species present in the Canary Islands and that it is included in the same category in the Spanish Catalog of Threatened Species) that are at risk of danger of extinction in the immediate future if adverse factors that act on them are not corrected (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). 3.1.2. Marine Mammals: Odontoceti, Chordata, Physeteridae 3.1.2.1. Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) Whitehead (2008) explains that the sperm whale (Figure 53) is one of the cetaceans with wider distribution by all the seas around the world, surpassed only at this point by the orca. Rice (1989) shows us that has a very extensive range of distribution, occupying the waters of all oceans, from the equator to the polar waters. Best (1979) said that the sperm whale, as well as large mysticetes, shows a general trend to make seasonal migrations latitudinal: in summer toward the poles in winter to tropical waters. Inside of the wide area of distribution of the sperm whale, there are more restricted areas where the species is particularly abundant. In these areas, called sperm whales grounds ("fields of sperm whales") by the American whalers of the nineteenth century, the presence of sperm whales is related to the abundance of food especially in areas Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 40 such as outcrops very productive, although there are also grounds in low productive areas such as the Sargasso Sea described by Jaquet et al. (1996) (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). Figure 53. Visual Identification and characteristics of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) (Espino et al. 2006). Biology and Ecology: Usually float motionless at the surface, sometimes forming groups of several individuals. As just mentioned, performs long migrations: in summer, toward higher latitudes and in winter to low latitudes (tropical and subtropical areas). It has a characteristic blow side. It feeds on fish and large cephalopods, such as the giant squid, conducting deep dives that can exceed 2,000m and last longer than 2 hours. It is the largest of the cetaceans with tooth (odontoceti) and, precisely, has the largest teeth of the animal kingdom, with a 1kg of weight and 20cm in length. When it is immersed, you can issue a popping noise that sounds like castanets; these signals are used to detect prey and to communicate. It has, in the head, the biggest brain size of the planet, in addition to an "organ of the spermaceti" that is filled with a substance oleagionsa, which serves to regulate its buoyancy. It generates a substance in the intestine known as "ambergris" of enormous value for its curative properties and aromatic. Its appearance/activity is during daylight. It is noted from craft, as it is in my case (Espino et al. 2006). Although it may be found in all the islands, seems to be more frequent in the northeast of Gran Canaria and the channel located between this island and Tenerife (Anaga), in Sardina del Norte (Gran Canaria) and in the south of Fuerteventura (Figure 54) (Espino et al. 2006). Figure 54. The distribution of the species in the Canary archipelago is between casual and frequent in the islands. (Espino et al. 2006), it is located, Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 47 Table 4. Cetacean species in spanish waters and its conservation status at different levels (species, population) according to the categories established by the spanish legislation and relevant by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN, at the global level) (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). SPECIES COMMON NAME 1LEY 42/2007 2RD 139/2011 3UICN 2008 Balaenoptera edeni / brydei Bryde’s Whale V Special Protection Regime Insufficient Data Physeter macrocephapuls Sperm Whale V Vulnerable Vulnerable (population decline) Delphinus delphis Short-Beaked Common Dolphin V Vulnerable (Mediterranean) Special Protection Regime (rest) Least Concern Globicephala macrorhynchus Short-Finned Pilot Whale V Vulnerable Insufficient Data Grampus griseus Risso’s Dolphin V Special Protection Regime Least Concern Stenella coeruleoalba Striped Dolphin V Special Protection Regime Least Concern Stenella frontalis Atlantic Spotted Dolphin V Special Protection Regime Insufficient Data Steno bredanensis Rought-Toothed Dolphin V Special Protection Regime Least Concern Tursiops truncatus Bottlenose Dolphin II y V Vulnerable Least Concern 1 Law of the Natural Heritage and biodiversity (42/2007). Annex II: animal species of Community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation. All species of cetaceans appear also in the Annex V: animal species of Community interest that require strict protection. 2 R.D. 139/2011: Wild Species in special protection regime and Spanish Catalog of Threatened Species. 3 UICN 2008. Network Red List of Threatened Species. Until now, only the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands has a specific regulation for the conservation of cetaceans, in its Decree 178/2000 by regulating the activities of observation of cetaceans. The total number of sightings (287) in the months studied for each species is shown in Table 5 and Table 6. This tables show, for each months of observation, the species sighted indicating the presence or absence of offspring. Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 48 SPECIES COMMON NAME Nº SIGHTINGS MONTHS SPOTTED SEASONALITY (MONTHS) Physeter macrocephalus Sperm whale 1 Oct. 2013 Grampus griseus Risso’s dolphin 8 Nov. 2013 Jan. 2014 Feb. 2014 Mar. 2014 Globicephala macrorhynchus Short-finned pilot whale 15 Jul. 2013 Sep. 2013 Oct. 2013 Nov. 2013 Jan. 2014 Feb. 2014 Delphinus delphis Short-beaked common dolphin 16 Aug. 2013 Jan. 2014 Feb. 2014 Mar. 2014 Steno bredanensis Rough-toothed dolphin 24 Sep. 2013 Oct. 2013 Dec. 2013 Jan. 2014 Feb. 2014 Mar. 2014 Stenella coeruleoalba Striped Dolphin 46 Jul. 2013 Aug. 2013 Sep. 2013 Oct. 2013 Nov. 2013 Jan. 2014 Feb. 2014 Mar. 2014 Stenella frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 76 Jul. 2013 Aug. 2013 Sep. 2013 Oct. 2013 Nov. 2013 Dec. 2013 Jan. 2014 Feb. 2014 Mar. 2014 Tursiops truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 58 Jul. 2013 Aug. 2013 Sep. 2013 Oct. 2013 Nov. 2013 Jan. 2014 Feb. 2014 Mar. 2014 Balaenoptera brydei / edeni Bryde’s whale 41 Aug. 2013 Sep. 2013 Oct. 2013 Dec. 2013 Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 49 Jan. 2014 Feb. 2014 Mar. 2014 Table 5. Relationship of the confirmed sightings of cetaceans registered on the coasts of Gran Canaria during the months studied and its seasonality. MONTH & YEAR COMMON NAME Nº SIGHTINGS Nº OFFSPRING July 2013 Bottlenose Dolphin 4 Yes Atlantic Spotted Dolphin 3 Yes Striped Dolphin 1 Yes Short-Finned Pilot Whale 1 Not August 2013 Bottlenose Dolphin 19 Yes Atlantic Spotted Dolphin 14 Yes Bryde’s Whale 8 Yes Striped Dolphin 2 Yes Short-Beaked Common Dolphin 1 Not September 2013 Bryde’s Whale 15 Yes Bottlenose Dolphin 14 Yes Striped Dolphin 11 Yes Atlantic Spotted Dolphin 7 Yes Short-Finned Pilot Whale 6 Yes Rough-Toothed Dolphin 3 Yes October 2013 Atlantic Spotted Dolphin 10 Yes Bryde’s Whale 10 Yes Striped Dolphin 8 Yes Bottlenose Dolphin 6 Yes Rough-Toothed Dolphin 2 Yes Short-Finned Pilot Whale 1 Yes Sperm Whale 1 Not November 2013 Striped Dolphin 6 Yes Atlantic Spotted Dolphin 6 Yes Bottlenose Dolphin 5 Not Risso’s Dolphin 3 Not Short-Finned Pilot Whale 2 Not December 2013 Rough-Toothed Dolphin 1 Yes Atlantic Spotted Dolphin 1 Yes Bryde’s Whale 1 Not January 2014 Atlantic Spotted Dolphin 15 Yes Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 50 Striped Dolphin 7 Yes Rough-Toothed Dolphin 6 Yes Bottlenose Dolphin 6 Yes Short-Finned Pilot Whale 4 Yes Short-Beaked Common Dolphin 3 Yes Bryde’s Whale 2 Yes Risso’s Dolphin 1 Not February 2014 Atlantic Spotted Dolphin 12 Yes Rough-Toothed Dolphin 11 Yes Striped Dolphin 9 Yes Short-Beaked Common Dolphin 7 Yes Risso’s Dolphin 3 Yes Bottlenose Dolphin 2 Not Bryde’s Whale 2 Not Short-Finned Pilot Whale 1 Not March 2014 Atlantic Spotted Dolphin 8 Yes Short-Beaked Common Dolphin 5 Yes Bryde’s Whale 3 Not Striped Dolphin 2 Yes Rough-Toothed Dolphin 1 Not Risso’s Dolphin 1 Not Bottlenose Dolphin 1 Not Table 6: Relation of the confirmed sightings of cetaceans registered in the different months of observation on the south coast of Gran Canaria with emergence of offspring. 4. CONCLUSIONS This TFT have reached the following conclusions: - The cetacean’s observation in the Canary Islands is an unstoppable tourism activity that develops throughout the year, with small variations in its intensity. It has been found that the frequency of sightings of cetaceans in the area does not vary greatly throughout the year, which means that the objective of the visitors is almost always guaranteed. The activity of observation of cetaceans don't have to limit itself to just a recreational use or tourist - commercial-, it is more, it can be a way to develop educational activities, scientific and cultural environment in the world of marine and coastal (Urquiola & Seville, 2007). Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 51 - The studies that have been made in recent years, on the cetaceans in the Canary Islands, reflect that the waters of the archipelago are rich in various species of cetaceans and that these have populations resident or migrant, faithful to certain patterns of distribution and mobility as a function of the availability of food, the dynamics of the oceanographic factors (thermal fronts, swirls, outcrops, etc) and the geomorphology of the seafloor (guns, slopes, etc) (Carrillo, 2000). - A priority objective is to keep the size of the current populations of cetaceans, for each of the areas of special conservation. This objective will be achieved through measures that minimize the impacts considered preliminary below: - Avoid decrease the current range of the species while maintaining optimal conditions the Special Area of Conservation, avoiding the anthropic activities that may affect the habitat of the target species in the area. - Estimate the population abundance through campaigns of research. - Carry out studies to know the identity of the population of the species in the archipelago. - Reduction of mortality due to interaction with fishing activities. (Estrategias Marinas: Evaluación Inicial, Buen Estado Ambiental y Objetivos Ambientales, 2012). 5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I want to thank to all the people that have worked and are working with the cetaceans and other marine mammals in Spain without whose efforts, dedication and enthusiasm, this document would not have been possible. This project could not have been carried out without the cooperation of the people who work in Spirit of the Sea for me and help me as Javier Zaera (Managing Director) and the rest whose names are not provided by anonymity. And, obviously, I want to thank Ricardo Haroun Tabraue for being my tutor. 6. REFERENCES - Cañadas, A. & Sagarminaga, R. (2000) Protocolos de recogida de información para las actividades de avistamientos de cetáceos y de tortugas marinas. Section-II. SEC (Spanish Cetacean Society) - Carrillo, M., Herrera Pérez, R. & Martín, V. (2000). Environment The Canary Islands. Magazine of the Ministry of Territorial Policy, number 18, Government of the Canary Islands. (www.gobcan.es/cmayot//medioambiente/centrodocumentacion/publicaciones/revista/2 000/18/240/index.html) - Carrillo, M. (2012) Text online (www.canariasconservacion.org/CetaceosCanarias.htm) Paula Lizarza Pecoraro 2015 52 - Da Cruz, H (1982). Guía de los Grandes Cetáceos y Actividad Ballenera. 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