Year of the Dolphin - Danubius makes a contribution
Danubius, TUI’s destination agency in Romania, will assist the environmental non governmental organization “Mare Nostrum” in their various activities in the Year of the Dolphin.
From April to September 2007 there will be the stranded dolphins field monitoring. 8-9 volunteers, together with Mare Nostrum team, will perform land surveys and biometric measurements in case of stranded cetaceans occurrence. Death causes are highly relevant for Mare Nostrum studies on dolphin stranding. Due to this information and the knowledge about dynamic population patterns of the species, it can be made a general dolphin population number assessment in the Black Sea. The land expeditions may bring out relevant data on dolphin herds approaching the shore, mainly for feeding related activities. Danubius assists this project by the participation in the monitoring sessions and by the person’s transportation.
From June to September info desks will be placed at different locations on the Romanian coast, where people can get information about the dolphin life in the Black Sea, about Mare Nostrum and its projects. Together with the info desks there will be “Dolphin Shops” for fundraising for the ongoing projects. At the Dolphin Shops are sold dolphin designed products as T-shirts, caps, backpacks, mugs, mouse pads, post cards and bags. Danubius offers its headquarters as a location for an info desk and a Dolphin Shop.
A further activity is the “Dolphin Week” from 1st -7th August 2007. Mare Nostrum believes that conservation involves science knowledge and society involvement, as tourists and local groups have a major role. The campaign is designed to make people aware of their influence and relationship with the environment. Mare Nostrum wants to show the people how they can protect the environment and the dolphin. Danubius will make a contribution to the Dolphin Week by an active involvement.
A Fishermen Festival will take place in August 2007. Local authorities, media, and the fishermen community will be invited to this event. The participants will have the opportunity to learn more interesting things about the dolphin species in the Black Sea, to taste different fish specialties and also bring their contribution to this project. As a memory of their contributions, they will receive promotional dolphin designed materials. The main objective of this event is the opportunity for fundraising for ADD (Acoustic Deterrent Devices – a possibility to prevent the by-catch of dolphins). Modern techniques are already advertised to the Romanian marine fishermen community, trying to raise awareness of this particular issue in order to reduce the by-catch and, at the same time, maintain traditional fishing activities. Mare Nostrum is taking note of the need for sustainable development closely connected with the local heritage. The ADD section is carried out in close partnership with the national Institute for Marine Research and Development “Grigore Antipa” and the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS).