Dolphin and midwater pair trawler

Bottlenose dolphin approaching a large midwater pair trawler ("volante") as the net is being hauled.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Northern Adriatic Sea)

Odd reflections

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Northern Adriatic Sea)

Dolphins following a beam trawler

In the waters off Veneto, Italy, bottlenose dolphins routinely follow midwater pair trawlers and otter trawlers. None of approximately 60 beam trawlers inspected by us had dolphins in their wake. We thought dolphins did not follow boats using this gear. However, this week we found dolphins feeding in the wake of a beam trawler, an unexpected new behaviour.

For more about dolphins changing their behaviour to adapt to human impact, stay tuned for an upcoming publication:
Bearzi G., Piwetz S., Reeves R.R. 2019. Odontocete adaptations to human impact, and vice-versa. In B. Würsig, ed. Ethology and Behavioral Ecology of Toothed Whales and Dolphins, the Odontocetes. Chapter 11. Springer, Heidelberg (in press).

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Northern Adriatic Sea)

Field training

Marco Bregoli learning dolphin photo-identification.

(People photos by S. Bonizzoni and G. Bearzi; dolphin photo by M. Bregoli)

Silvia, Marco and dolphin

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Northern Adriatic Sea)

Peaceful dolphin school

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Northern Adriatic Sea)

Friendly dolphins

Today's group of nine bottlenose dolphins were friendly and easy to approach. They seemed to like our new fibreglass boat and often came to inspect it :-)

(Photos by G. Bearzi, Northern Adriatic Sea)

At sea again

Our Sea Pro jumps into the Adriatic after having hibernated in its cave.