Dolphin-Fisheries Interactions: An Increasing Problem for Mediterranean Small-Scale Fisheries

In the Mediterranean Sea, dolphin-fisheries interactions represent a ‘burning’ issue, with economic, social and ethical implications that further complicate fisheries management e.g. [1]. Indeed, net damage, reduction in catch value and decrease of total amount of fish caught are among the main negative impacts of dolphins on fisheries e.g. [2,3]. On the other hand, fisheries might cause dolphins unwanted catches determining mortal injury as well as behavior modification and reduction in reproductive rates [4,5]. Moreover, the increased overexploitation of the Mediterranean fish stocks [6], including important prey of dolphins [7], changed the food web dynamics, rising the interactions between dolphins and fisheries with potential threats for the present and future dolphin generations. Considering the essential role of dolphins on the equilibrium of the ecosystem e.g. [8] several international protection measures are in place, for example the Bern Convention and the Habitat Directive (92/43/EEC).