was 2007, but has been extended to 2008.

.

.

"Since Aristoteles, the dolphins have always fascinated men. To many people, they represent the Earth's heart and soul.

[...]

More than twenty years ago, the roazes-corvineiros (local common name for Bottle-nosed dolphins) were usually seen by travellers sailing across the Tagus River from and to Lisbon. As years went by, and because of the increasing use and pollution of these waters, the dolphins have disappeared.
[...]
The last remaining coastal waters dolphins in Portugal are found in the Sado River estuary and its surroundings."
(Translated from Portuguese - Stefan Harzen & Barbara Brunnick, O Roaz-corvineiro do Estuário do Sado, Portugal, 1995).

The roaz-corvineiro of Sado River (Tursiops truncatus) watched durind a visit to the estuary, on "Hiate de Setúbal" bord.
The "Hiate de Setúbal" is a faithful reply of this river traditional boats (called hiates) and was built by the Clube Naval Setubalense (1993-94); it represented the Municipality of Setúbal at the Lisbon Expo'98 and has been participating in international traditional boats meetings - see picture of sailing "Hiate de Setúbal".

The Sado Estuary Natural Reserve (Reserva Natural do Estuário do Sado) was defined as Protected Land under the portuguese law in 1980. It is now included - since 1996 - in the Ramsar Convention List (Wetlands of International Importance) and - since 1997/99 - in the Natura 2000 Network.

"The most devastating threat upon the Sado River dolphins is environmental pollution. [...] No matter if it is commercial or private garbage, chemical discharges, high temperatures, loud noise, pesticids or toxic gases, all of this is pollution. [...]
The threats upon the Sado Estuary are very serious and deserve an immediate attention. The dolphins are not the only ones in danger."
(idem, ibidem)

The European Environment Agency, in its fourth assessment on "Europe's Environment" (Belgrade, October 2007 - the first assessment on this theme is from 1995), under chapter 5, Marine and Coastal Environment, considers that "The overall picture in 2007 has hardly changed from that in 1995".

And it's rather awkward not to find a single reference to this dolphin community in the official site of the Biodiversity and Natural Conservation Institute (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e da Biodiversidade)!

[originally posted on Jan 12th, 2008]

Category: THE COASTAL LAND