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Michaela Muscat
The Dolphins Sailor, an Italian ship whose aims are to protect and promote the conservation of marine mammals in the Mediterranean region, berthed at Valletta Harbour yesterday evening, where the crew will be involving the local community in its activities, as they believe that “the community is ultimately responsible for preserving and protecting the environment.”
Children will be able to follow an exciting journey of exploration in the world of dolphins with the aid of games. These educational activities serve to increase awareness and highlight the importance of safeguarding these mammals, and biological diversity in general.
The Dolphins Sailor, an ancient sailing ship, is part of an initiative sponsored by the Italian Ministry for the Environment. The researchers and experts onboard are following routes over a 2,000-mile long itinerary to study the presence of marine mammals. They will be focusing on marine protected areas since they are considered as “essential laboratories” for the preservation of the ecosystem.
These mammals are at the top of the marine food chain and are an integral part of the Mediterranean sea and their state can be an important indicator of the conditions of our seas.
The ship reached our shores as the marine rescue team of Nature Trust were in charge of collecting the carcass of an adult Risso dolphin discovered at Birzebbuga.
Unfortunately it was in “a very advanced state of decomposition,” and the cause of death could not be determined.
michaelam@newsworksltd.com
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