MARINElife is a key contributor and our Research Director Tom Brereton is co-author of a publication sent to the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) Scientific Committee on the importance of the canyons of Southern Biscay (Northern Spanish Coast) for the Cuvier's Beaked Whale.
MARINElife and its ARC partners ORCA
(Organisation Cetacea) and AMBAR ran a series of dedicated surveys
in the Southern Bay of Biscay in 2006, 2007 and 2008 confirming the
importance of the area for Cuvier's Beaked Whale.
Beaked whales are known to be at risk from active sonar, with strandings being recorded following active sonar tests. The publication recommends that the best mitigation strategy for the high-risk effects of active sonar on Cuvier's Beaked Whales in Southern Biscay would be to avoid such activities in area of high densities of Cuvier's Beaked Whale, such as the Canyon areas of Southern Biscay.
The next step will be for the IWC Scientific Committee to publish their recommendation which we hope will lead to protection for the area.