Conservative Efforts

With all of the damaging human impact to the common dolphin, there has been a conservative push in recent years. To solve decreasing numbers of the common dolphin, the society must make changes to the known actions that harm them. It is also important to create more research initiatives to understand what problems face the common dolphin, and how these problems can be solved.

In 1999, the Spanish government listed the common dolphin on the National Endangered Species list as vulnerable. This effectively started a large initiative around the world to protect various habitats for the dolphins and increase research and funding for conservation (Bearzi et al. 2003).

Overfishing has the most harmful influence on the common dolphin. In order to help the recovery of the common dolphin in heavily fished ecosystems, the unsustainable harvest by fisheries must be halted, or at least better regulated. There are many ways in which humans could satisfy their own needs for seafood, while being responsible to the marine ecosystem. Some of these solutions include putting a temporary halt on purse seining in endangered areas, restricting bottom trawling, and placing stricter regulation and steeper fines for illegal fishing (Bearzi, 2008). Purse seining is fishing with a large net that encircles schools of fish. This type of fishing is very effective, but it also doesn’t allow the ocean to repopulate very well. Bottom trawling is a devastating way of fishing in which large weighted nets are dragged across the bottom of the ocean capturing unwanted species, bull-dozing the ocean floor releasing pollutants, and destroying coral reefs and marine structure.

There are many organizations that are working for the conservation of the common dolphin. Most notably are the organizations Green Peace, and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. These organizations work mostly by unveiling the immoral treatment of dolphins. The European Union has established many laws to ban harmful fishing gear that is responsible for killing many dolphins, as well protected dolphins from deliberate killing in the Mediterranean region (Bearzi, 2009). The problem lies in international waters where one country’s efforts may not be enough to stop the mistreatment of the important common dolphin.

There are many conservational efforts that are in use today.  To look at some, go to this link and scroll down to the "Conservation" heading.

 

 

 

Look at the ways they have made an impact go to Environmental Impacts

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