The main reason we created the Association was to continue the study of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), in the coastal waters from Capo Noli (SV) to the boundary with France (IM), that begun in 2018.
Field visual surveys take place on a dinghy moored in Imperia; we sail all year round, 10 times per month on average. Researchers are assisted by interns who learn cetaceans and other marine fauna monitoring techniques.
Wildlife search is conducted using binoculars. During each survey, we collect weather, nautical traffic and human activities data while searching for cetaceans, sea turtles, sea birds and other animals.
If we spot animals we try to approach them to be able to estimate the number, assess their behavior and group composition.
Since dolphin’s dorsal fins can be compared, as with human fingerprints, when we sight bottlenose dolphins we take fin pictures in order to photo-identify any specimen. This way researchers can backtrack the movements of dolphins, learn about their social behavior and study the interactions with human activities.