For the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of whales and dolphins, the European Parliament invited to an expert meeting in Brussels.
Dr. Lorenzo von Fersen (1st chairman of YAQU PACHA) was invited to this event and reported about our projects to reduce bycatch of dolphin species like the highly endangered La Plata dolphin - Franciscana and our strategies to avoid bycatch. Here YAQU PACHA works closely with fishermen and fishing communities.
The event was initiated by MEP Gabriel Mato and Loro Parque Fundación in collaboration with IUCN Species Survival Commission and WAZA. In addition to researchers Javier Almunia Portolés, Boris Culik and Lorenzo von Fersen, the scientific director of our partner Planète Sauvage, Martin Böye, presented the collaboration between zoos and research and with fishermen. He reported on the strategies developed to counteract the bycatch of dolphins and whales in fishing nets. Professor Boris Culik presented the results of his work to protect dolphins using acoustic signals (pingers) to keep dolphins away from fishing nets.
We are very pleased that our organization is involved in such important projects of the European Parliament for the conservation of biodiversity.
