site.btaCampaign Raises Funds for Monitoring Dolphin Migration in Black Sea

A campaign launched by the Green Balkans environmental organization aims to raise funds that will help monitor the migrations, important habitats and seasonal presence of dolphins in the Black Sea. The organization hopes to raise 5,000 leva to purchase a satellite transmitter that will be placed on a harbour porpoise, the smallest cetacean species in the Black Sea.  

Satellite tracking of harbour porpoises is an established method across the world for studying the species but has not been applied in Bulgaria yet. The fundraiser, On Dolphins' Trail, will help conduct the first such study in the Black Sea. 

Not enough is known about the three cetacean species in the Black Sea (common dolphin, common bottlenose dolphin, and harbour porpoise). Gathering data on their number, habitats, migration routes and birthing locations can help protect them from the numerous threats they face, as well as provide information about the state of the sea environment. 

Green Balkans plan to focus their study on the harbour porpoise as this species leads the most secretive way of life, its social interactions being conducted entirely underwater. It is also the most threatened by bycatch and drowning in fishing nets.

Donations can be made here until December 24, 2022.