– Data collection and observations of the collaborators on the presence of marine
mammals in the area;
– Observation on board of vessels/boats of cetacean groups, in the coastal and
offshore zone.
The monitoring of marine mammals at sea was carried out by boat (Fig. 27.2)
and using the “Steaua de Mare 1” research vessel (Fig. 27.3). Monitoring at sea was
made during calm sea, as it allows the location of individuals at great distances from
the survey vessel.
27.3 Results and Discussion
In April–May 2013, observations at sea were performed with the “Steaua de Mare
1”research vessel, aiming at tracing individuals or groups of dolphins.
Observations made in April resulted in a recorded number of 216 marine
mammals, represented by the three reported species (Fig. 27.4). The distribution
in the three sectors of the Romanian coastline is presented in Fig. 27.5.
The area in which the observations were carried out in April was about 3204 km
2
and represented 17% of the total surface taken into account (19,299 km
2 ) for the
purpose of estimating marine mammal abundance. By means of extrapolation, it
was estimated that the number of cetaceans present in the offshore area in April, on
the total surface taken into account, ranged between 88 (D. D. ponticus) and
817 individuals (P. P. relicta), with a total of 1270 specimens (Fig. 27.6).
Fig. 27.2 Boat used for dolphin observations
476
G. T ¸ iganov et al.