Projeto Toninhas

The critically endangered franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) is a small coastal cetacean from South American waters. Bycatch in gillnets is the biggest threat to the franciscanas and strategies to mitigate it are urgent for the conservation of the species. The use of pingers, devices that emit an acoustic alarm to keep dolphins away from gillnets, is promising, but they still need to be tested in real fishing situations. In partnership with the artisanal fishing community of Farol de Santa Marta, in southern Brazil, our project will test the applicability of pingers in small-scale fisheries, evaluating their effectiveness with acoustic monitoring devices and potential side effects.

Projeto Toninhas

Additionally, we will analyze the bioacoustic and behavior of franciscanas near different types of fishing nets and in different environmental conditions. In this community, we will conduct an early childhood environmental education program and produce videos for scientific dissemination. In Babitonga Bay, where a resident population occurs, we will estimate acoustic parameters necessary for the development of a new methodology to estimate franciscana abundance using acoustic detection. In this area we will also carry out a diagnosis of the fish production chain to identify opportunities for valuing fish from sustainable fisheries.

*This grant was made possible in partnership with the Brazil Foundation, who served as the grant maker.