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A first assessment of operator compliance and dolphin behavioural responses during swim-with-dolphin programs for three species of Delphinids in the Azores

dc.contributor.authorCecchetti, Arianna
dc.contributor.authorStockin, K. A.
dc.contributor.authorGordon, Jonathan
dc.contributor.authorAzevedo, José M. N.
dc.date.accessioned2020-01-28T19:14:48Z
dc.date.available2020-01-28T19:14:48Z
dc.date.issued2019-11
dc.description.abstractThe popularity of swim-with wild dolphin programs around the world is fast growing, with the studies required to investigate their impact lagging behind. In the Azores, species targeted include the short-beaked common (Delphinus delphis), the bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and the Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis). To evaluate the effects of this activity on local dolphin populations, and thus provide support for management decisions, dolphin response data were collected onboard commercial boats off São Miguel Island between 2013 and 2015. All three species revealed high degree of neutral and avoidance behaviours, and very low approach rates. Tursiops showed higher frequency of neutral responses than Delphinus, while Stenella both avoided and approached more frequently than the other species. When boats intersected the path of dolphin groups, avoidance responses were more likely and the duration of swims was shorter. Swims were also shorter when animals were resting and travelling, and when groups were smaller. The operators generally complied with the legislation, except in respect to the number of swim attempts per dolphin group, which was higher than the legal maximum. Improvement of the current legislation and concurrent reinforcement of controls is essential to avoid detrimental long-term effects of this activity on dolphin populations in the Azores.pt_PT
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research was partially supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the COMPETE – Operational Competitiveness Programme and national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2013, by the Strategic Funding UID/Multi/04423/2013 through national funds provided by FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), in the framework of the programme PT2020 and by cE3c funding (Ref:UID/BIA/003329/2013). It was also partly supported by CIRN (Centro de Investigação de Recursos Naturais, University of the Azores), and CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Porto, Portugal). A. Cecchetti was supported by the Regional Fund for Science through the scholarship M.3.1.2/F/036/2011. K.A. Stockin was supported by a Royal Society of New Zealand Te Aparangi Rutherford Discovery Fellowship.pt_PT
dc.description.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionpt_PT
dc.identifier.citationCecchetti, A., K.A. Stockin, J. Gordon and J.M.N. Azevedo (2019). A first assessment of operator compliance and dolphin behavioural responses during swim-with-dolphin programs for three species of Delphinids in the Azores. "Arquipélago. Life and Marine Sciences", 36: 23-37.en
dc.identifier.issn0873-4704
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.3/5308
dc.language.isoengpt_PT
dc.peerreviewedyespt_PT
dc.publisherUniversidade dos Açorespt_PT
dc.subjectDelphinus delphispt_PT
dc.subjectTursiops truncatuspt_PT
dc.subjectStenella frontalispt_PT
dc.subjectDolphin Tourismen
dc.titleA first assessment of operator compliance and dolphin behavioural responses during swim-with-dolphin programs for three species of Delphinids in the Azoresen
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.awardURIinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/COMPETE/PEst-C%2FMAR%2FLA0015%2F2013/PT
oaire.awardURIinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/5876/UID%2FMulti%2F04423%2F2013/PT
oaire.citation.conferencePlaceHorta (Açores)pt_PT
oaire.citation.endPage37pt_PT
oaire.citation.startPage23pt_PT
oaire.citation.titleArquipélago - Life and Marine Sciencespt_PT
oaire.citation.volume36pt_PT
oaire.fundingStreamCOMPETE
oaire.fundingStream5876
person.familyNameCecchetti
person.givenNameArianna
person.identifier.orcid0000-0001-7868-4105
person.identifier.ridF-7112-2015
project.funder.identifierhttp://doi.org/10.13039/501100001871
project.funder.identifierhttp://doi.org/10.13039/501100001871
project.funder.nameFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
project.funder.nameFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
rcaap.rightsopenAccesspt_PT
rcaap.typearticlept_PT
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relation.isProjectOfPublication.latestForDiscoveryf93f3e48-9db9-4f44-adb4-49298e7dc9b5

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