The European Parliament invited experts to Brussels for a meeting on preserving biodiversity and protecting whales and dolphins.
Dr. Lorenzo von Fersen (1st Chairman of YAQU PACHA) was invited to this event and reported on our projects to reduce bycatch of dolphin species such as the highly endangered La Plata dolphin – Franciscana – and our strategies for preventing bycatch. YAQU PACHA works closely with fishermen and fishing communities in this area.
The event was initiated by MEP Gabriel Mato and the Loro Parque Fundación in collaboration with the 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 as well as with fishermen. He reported on the strategies that have been developed to counteract the bycatch of dolphins and whales in fishing nets. Professor Boris Culik presented the results of his work on protecting dolphins with acoustic signals (pingers) to keep dolphins away from fishing nets.
We are delighted that our organization is involved in such important European Parliament projects for the conservation of biodiversity.
