BASIC FIRST AID Upon discovering a live stranded, sick or injured animal; it is important to administer Basic First Aid whenever possible. Properly administrated First Aid could mean the difference between life and death. In any case, the main priority is to avoid causing stress to the animal, as this is a common cause of death. Avoid sudden movements, loud noise, unnecessary movements and close examinations, as well as the presence of a large crowd of people around the animal. Never try to move it to deeper water as this is also a common cause of death for stranded marine mammals in Greece. What you should do upon discovering a stranded marine mammal or turtle:
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1. Check for movement from a distance. For a turtle or seal, it might be normal for them to be on the beach. 2. Check the breathing rate. Increased breathing rates indicate stress, which could be fatal. Normal breathing rate is as follows:
3. Disentangle or cut away any fishing line or net that may be around the animal.
Dorsal Fin Melon
INFORMATION FOR SIGHTING AND STRANDING EVENTS OF MARINE MAMMALS AND SEA TURTLES
Flukes
Rostrum Ear Flipper
Cetaceans • • •
Small cetaceans (e.g. common dolphin or porpoise) = 2-5 breaths / min Medium cetaceans = 1 breath / min Large cetaceans (e.g. sperm whale) = up to 1 breath / 20mins
Pinniped •
Normal/Mean breathing rate 5-15 breaths/min. Continuous breathing is abnormal and may indicate respiratory disease, stress or overheating
Sea Turtles •
Breathing rate outside water: at least every 20 minutes. Even if breathing is not obvious, the turtle could still be alive. Reflexes should be checked as well (see below).
4.
Support whales or dolphins in an upright position and dig trenches under the pectoral fins (flippers). If possible, fill the trenches with seawater to aid in cooling the animal.
5. Keep the animal cool and wet by continually
covering with wet sheets or towels (or seaweed if available). Ensure the blowhole/nostrils are not covered and are clear of water and debris
6. Never touch the blowhole or the eyes. 7. In sunny weather, attempt to provide shade for the animal by constructing a tarpaulin 8. In cold or windy weather, attempt to provide a windbreak around the animal to prevent windburn damage.
WHO TO CONTACT In case of a stranding, contact Archipelagos, Institute of Marine & Environmental Research of the Aegean Sea. Email the description, photos or/and video of the marine mammal or turtle recorded. Archipelagos IMERAS: 22730 37533 If urgent and outside office hours please call ++30 69747 44949 Email (info@archipelago.gr) Other useful phone numbers: For injured marine turtles contact Archelon - Sea Turtle Rescue Centre - 210 8982600, 210 8944444 For injured birds or terrestrial mammals contact Anima - Association for the Protection & Welfare of Wildlife - 2109510075, 6972664675 Ministry of Rural Development & Food - CITES - 210 2124568
The Greek seas support some of the most important remaining marine mammal and turtle populations in the Mediterranean. In spite of the fact that these species are protected they face various anthropogenic threats. In Greece, there are no management and conservation measures, resulting in the drastic decline of their populations. In Greece, with over 18 000 km of coastline and 220 000 km2 of sea surface, the collection of data regarding the populations and strandings of marine mammals and turtles, is very difficult. The research carried out of these species is limited, and unfortunately strandings are rarely reported or recorded. The involvement of everyone’s help with the reporting of sightings and strandings is very important. This leaflet provides information on how you should act when having discovered a stranded animal and who should be informed concerning a sighting or stranding report.
SPECIES IDENTIFICATION
The most commonly sighted species in the NE Mediterranean region include:
Cetaceans
Pinniped
Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruloealba)
Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus)
Length: 1.8 - 2.5 m Weight: 110 - 170 kg Life span: > 50 years
Feeding habits: mainly fish and squid, but also octopus and crustaceans Habitat: pelagic species, in resident populations Status (Medit. Sea.): most common in the Greek Seas , as well as in the entire Mediterranean Sea but is in decline IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (assessed in 2008) - despite mortality due to direct and incidental takes in many parts of the world, there is no evidence of a major global decline
Length: 2.6 - 3.8 m Weight: 300 – 600 kg Life span: > 30 years
Feeding habits: mainly squid, also fish Habitat: prefers continental slope waters with steep relief Status (Medit. Sea.): no population estimates exist, but generally considered as scarce IUCN Red List Status: Least concern (assessed in 2008) - Despite ongoing threats to local populations, the species is widespread and abundant
Length: 1.9-2.9m Weight: 150-300 kg Life span: > 50 years
Feeding habits: demersal fish, cephalopods and sometimes crustaceans Habitat: coastal and pelagic; coastal groups in resident populations Status (Medit. Sea.): in decline, but big differences between sub-populations IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (assessed in 2008) - Although there are many threats operating on local populations, the species is relatively widespread and abundant
Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
Length: 1.7 - 2.4 m Weight: 70 - 135 kg Life span: > 30 years
Feeding habits: schooling fish and cephalopods Habitat: Mostly pelagic species, but also in coastal waters Status (Medit. Sea.): despite their name, many populations have shown drastic declines in last decades, with the last Aegean population being located within the Samos bay region IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (assessed in 2008)- Despite ongoing threats to local populations, the species is widespread and abundant
THREATS
Length: male 16 - 18 m / female 8 - 12 m Weight: male 57,000 kg / female 24,000 kg Life span: > 60 years
Feeding habits: mesopelagic cephalopods (giant squid), some demersal fish (e.g. rays) Habitat: pelagic species, especially along the continental slope Status (Medit. Sea.): fewer than 2500 adult individuals, numbers declining IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (assessed in 2008) - globally widespread but the cause in reduction of species is reversible
Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus)
Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
Cuviers Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris)
Length: 5.1 - 6.9 m Weight: 2,000 - 3,000 kg Life span: > 60 years
Feeding habits: mainly deep-sea cephalopods, but also fish Habitat: pelagic species, often associated with deep slopes & canyons Status (Medit. Sea.): in some parts relatively common, but for most areas data missing IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (assessed in 2008) – global trend or abundance data is unavailable but abundance >100,000
Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
Length: ~ 20 m Weight: 40 - 50 tonnes Life span: > 80 years
Length: 1.3 - 1.8 m Weight: 50 - 90 kg Life span: ~ 25 years
Feeding habits: fish, cephalopods and crustaceans Habitat: pelagic species Status (Medit. Sea.): regular throughout the western and central basins, rare in the Aegean Sea IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (assessed in 2008) – cause of species reductions (commercial whaling) is reversible but not currently in operation Feeding habits: wide variety of fish and cephalopods Habitat: coastal and shallow offshore waters Status (Medit. Sea.): population in the Black Sea, with rare migrations into the Aegean Sea IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern ( assessed in 2008) - facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild
Length: 2 - 3 m Weight: 300 - 350 kg Life span: >45 years
Feeding habits: Demersal fish and cephalopods Habitat: Coastal species, encountered in uninhabited islets and rocky shores (in regions difficult to approach) Status (Medit. Sea.): Used to be found in the whole of the Mediterranean but is now limited to the eastern Mediterranean basin and North-west African coast. Total population is estimated to be about 500 individuals. IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (assessed in 2008) – small, fragmented population structure, extremely sensitive to human disturbance
Sea Turtles
Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Length: 1.0 - 1.5m Weight: ~300kg Life span: 30 - 62 years
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Length: up to 1.5 m Weight: ~200 kg Life span: >80 years
Length: up to 3 m Weight: ~ 400 kg Life span: 30+ years
Feeding habits: Demersal fish, crustaceans and cephalopods Habitat: pelagic, coastal & terrestrial – only come ashore to nest Status (Medit. Sea.): throughout Mediterranean but uncommon. Key nesting sites in Greece, Cyprus & Turkey IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (assessed in 1996) – documentation on distribution, habitats and threats unavailable Feeding habits: adults herbivorous; seagrass and algae. Juveniles known to each tunicates, small crustaceans and jellyfish Habitat: pelagic, coastal & terrestrial – only come ashore to nest Status (Medit. Sea.): extensive population declines IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (assessed in 2004) – global population declines in all major ocean basins over the last three generations Feeding habits: jellyfish, tunicates and cephalopods Habitat: pelagic, coastal & terrestrial – only come ashore to nest Status (Medit. Sea.): population declines – extent unknown IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (assessed in 2000) – rapid declines across global populations
The most common threats to marine mammals and sea turtles in the Greek seas include: - Overfishing and depletion of fish stocks - Vessel strikes, with mainly speedboats for turtles and cargo boats/ferries for whales - Anthropogenic noise (seismic exploration and naval sonar) - Marine pollution - Oil spills - Disease and parasites - Marine ecosystems degradation and destruction - Climate change IMPORTANCE OF DATA AND SAMPLE COLLECTION Data collection from sightings of marine mammal and turtles populations, as well as from strandings, can provide researchers with a lot of information for the status of these animals in our seas. By photographing characteristic marks, it is possible to recognise certain individuals again in the future. This provides information for the migratory patterns of these populations. Photography and videos are also important in recording characteristics of dead or stranded animals. Toxicological analysis of dead animals can provide important details about the causes of death, the populations’ health, the threats associated, the reasons for the occurrence of the strandings, as well as information regarding disease and parasites. This information is important for producing and developing management and conservation strategies, this enables a better understanding for the causes of stranding events, and the protection the remaining populations. It is important that all data (including samples whenever possible), is collected as detailed as possible on the sighting report form and live stranding report form.