News
In this section you can read the latest news from our organization about our activities and our projects.
16/07/2018 – START OF THE PROJECT FRIENDS OF THE SEA
In Associació Cetàcea we are pleased to present the project Friends of the Sea. This is a pioneering citizen science project in Catalunya, which aims to gather information related to opportunistic sightings of cetaceans recorded from professional or leisure vessels along the Catalan coast.
16/2/2018 – TECHNICAL REPORT OF THE PHOTO-ID PROJECT 2017
Associació Cetàcea is pleased to present the technical report in which we analyse the results of the Project Photo-Identification: Whales and dolphins along the Catalan coast 2017 season. The project was started in 2014 and its main objective is to deepen our knowledge on the cetacean communities that can be frequently seen off the central Catalan coast.
16/10/2017 – SPERM WHALE SIGHTED OFF THE COAST OF GARRAF
Associació Cetàcea’s team documented a sighting of a sperm whale during the last cetacean sighting survey included in the Photo-Identification Project: Whales and dolphins along the Catalan coast, which aim is to study the cetacean communities frequenting the central Catalan coast. The 10 m long animal was swimming correctly and performing regular dives 20 miles off the coast of Garraf in an area in which waters were about 1,200 metres deep.
July 2017 – DEPANA ADOPTS A RISSO’S DOLPHIN
From October 2016 to March 2017, the Lliga per la Defensa del Patrimoni Natural (DEPANA) undertook a fundraising campaign to adopt the Risso’s dolphin GG0010, included in our. At the same time, they organised a contest for their associates, friends and supporters to give a name to the adopted Risso’s dolphin. They also organised a raffle which allowed 2 of the participants to come to one of the sighting surveys of the Photo-Identification Project: Whales and dolphins along the Catalan coast, carried out by Associació Cetàcea.
14-3-17 – SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHINS SIGHTED DURING ONE OF THE SURVEYS OF THE PHOTO-ID PROJECT
A surprising encounter ocurred during the last sighting survey of the Photo-identification project conducted by Associació Cetàcea off the coast of el Garraf last Sunday. A pod of around 10 short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) aproached our research vessel and swam close to it for a long time. The species has usually been recorded in areas of the Southwestern Mediterranean Sea, such as the Alboran Sea or the Strait of Gibraltar, however its presence in the Catalan coast is unsual. The sighting occurred last Sunday was the first time Associació Cetàcea spotted the species, since the start of the Photo-Identification project, four years ago. You can see a video of this encounter filmed by one of our volunteers.
If you want to learn more about this amazing species, check our technical sheet on the short-beaked common dolphin.
12-3-17 – TECHNICAL REPORT ON THE PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION PROJECT 2015 – 2016
Associació Cetàcea is pleased to present the technical report in which we analyse the results of the Project Photo-Identification: Whales and dolphins along the Catalan coast 2015 and 2016 seasons. The project was started in 2014 and its main aim is to deepen our knowledge on the cetacean communities that can be frequently seen off the central Catalan coast.
24/11/2016 – EVA AND LAURA INTRODUCING THE FILM THE COVE
On Friday November 18th our colleagues Eva Rizo and Laura Almarcha were invited to introduce the documentary The Cove, played at the Casa de les Aigües in Barcelona. After the movie, which received an Oscar award in 2010, our colleagues answered questions about different topics such as cetacean captivity, cetaceans slaughters in the world and even the overexplotaition of the seas and other anthropogenic factors which negatively affect the lives of this wonderful animals. The assistants, from kids to adults, actively took part in the subsequent debate. We would like to thank FAADA which recommended us to attend thisevent.
25/08/2016 – THE RISSO’S DOLPHIN AKASHA WASHED UP DEAD ON GAVÀ BEACH
On August 22nd a Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) was found dead stranded on a beach in Gavà (Baix Llobregat). According to the information provided by Rural Agents, the animal measured more than 3 metres in length, its conservation status was M2 and its body was covered by external parasites.
12/04/2016 – INTERVIEW AT THE SHOW LA TARDA OF LA XARXA
Our colleagues Eva and Bárbara where interviewed in the radio show La Tarda earlier this week to talk about our projects and the cetaceans off the Catalan coast.
09/04/2016 – FIRST SURVEY OF THE SEASON OF THE PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION PROJECT
On Sunday 3rd of April, Associació Cetàcea carried out the first sighting survey of the current season of the Photo-Identification Project: Whales and dolphins along the Catalan coast from the harbour of Vilanova I la Geltrú.
15/03/2016 – NEW BLOG “SOY ADICTA AL PLÁSTICO”
Up to 70 % of the anthropogenic debris in marine environment is made up of plastic, affecting marine mammals, seabirds, fishes and many other marine species. This new blog suggests simple actions that will allow us to slowly reduce the use of plastic products.
31/12/2015 – BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION CATALOGUE
Associació Cetàcea presents the online bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) photo-identification catalogue as a result of the sighting surveys carried out within the Photo-Identification Project: Whales and dolphins along the Catalan coast since 2013.
15/08/2015 – RISSO’S DOLPHIN PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION CATALOGUE
Associació Cetàcea presents the online Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) photo-identification catalogue as a result of the sighting surveys carried out within the Photo-Identification Project: Whales and dolphins along the Catalan coast during the year 2014.
12/06/2015 – TALK: HOW TO CREATE A PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION CATALOG
We will hold a free talk about the photo-identification of cetaceans at the civic centre Can Deu in Barcelona on june 12th. The talk will be focussed on the steps that should be carried out in order to create and manage a photo-identification catalog.
10/07/2014 – FIRST SEASON OF THE PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION PROJECT COMES TO AN END
In june 28th, Associació Cetàcea fulfilled the last sighting survey of the first season of the Photo-Identification Project: Whales and dolphins along the catalan coast. During this time there have been 27 sighting of four different cetacean species.
25/06/2014 – CETÀCEA EXPERIENCE
Associació Cetàcea presents the Cetàcea Experience, that will take place for the first time in July 11th, 12th and 13th. Cetàcea wants to raise awareness about the importance of the conservation of the marine environment and in order to do so, it puts forward this new experience with the intention of letting people get to know that part of the Mediterranean that is farther from the coast, an the species that inhabit it.
17/05/2014 – SECOND CETACEAN SIGHTING AND PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION COURSE
Associació Cetàcea presents the second edition of the Cetacean Sighting and Photo-Identification course, which will take place on June 27th, 28th and 29th. The course offers the opportunity to have a better knowledge of the different cetacean species usually seen in the Mediterranean Sea, and get to know the different scientific research methods used to study these animals.
13/05/2014 – ASSOCIACIÓ CETÀCEA AT LET’S CLEAN EUROPE
Associació Cetàcea participated in the clean-up day organized by the Consorci dels Colls i Miralpeix within the framework “Let’s Clean Europe”.
13/04/2014 – FIRST CETACEAN SIGHTING AND PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION COURSE COMES TO AN END
After having cancelled the practical part of the course -planned for March 30th- due to the bad weather conditions, we were able to finish this part of the first edition of the Cetacean Sighting and Photo-Identification Course last Sunday, April 13th.
30/03/2014 – 1ST CETACEAN SIGHITING AND PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION COURSE
The first edition of the Cetacean Sighting and Photo-Identification Course took place during March 28th, 29th and 30th with the attendance of 8 people.
08/02/2014 – BEACH CLEAN-UP IN MONTGAT
Associació Cetàcea and the scout group Pare Bertran from Barcelona performed a beach clean-up in a beach from Montgat on February 8th. The activity was an introduction to the animal species that live in the Mediterranean.
Members of Associació Cetàcea conducted a routine survey in order to test the equipment that we will use in our research projects in 2014. The biggest surprise was that we were not alone. Many different sea animals joined us.
12/01/2014 – CETACEAN SIGHTING AND PHOTOIDENTIFICATION COURSE
Associació Cetàcea presents the first edition of the Cetacean Sighting and Photo-Identification Course. The course, that will take place on the 28, 29 and 30 of March, is a good opportunity for all those people interested in cetacean.
21/12/2013 – PRESENTATION OF CETÀCEA IN MONTGAT
On Saturday 21st of December the public presentation of Associació Cetàcea took place in Montgat. The town council collaborated in the preparation of the event which took place in the conference room Pau Casals of the public library Tirant lo Blanc. We also presented the preliminary results of the Fin Whale Project and the activities that are planned for 2014.
15/12/2013 – CETÀCEA AT THE CHRISTMAS FAIR OF MONTGAT
Associació Cetacea took part at the Christmas Fair of Montgat on Sunday 15th of December. The Fair, organized by the town council, is an exhibit of the different entities of the village.
27/11/2013 – CETÀCEA STARTS A COLLABORATION WITH OBIS SEAMAP
After a few weeks of contact, Associació Cetàcea has started a collaboration with OBIS SEAMAP, which is a website that includes observation data of marine mammals, seabirds and sea turtles from across the globe.
24/11/2013 – COOPERATION WITH THE CONSORCI DELS COLLS I MIRALPEIX IN A BEACH CLEAN-UP
Associació Cetàcea participated in the beach clean-up organised by the Consorci dels Colls i Miralpeix that took place on the beaches located between Cubelles and Vilanova i la Geltrú.
01/10/2013 – ASSOCIACIÓ CETÀCEA ENDS THE FIRST SEASON OF THE FIN WHALE PROJECT
Associació Cetàcea, after 4 surveys in spring and 5 surveys during the month of September, ends the first season of the Fin Whale Project. Now the analysis of the obtained material and the preparation for 2014 season will begin.
20/04/2013 – ASSOCIACIÓ CETÀCEA STARTS THE FIN WHALE PROJECT
Associació Cetàcea starts the Fin Whale project, approved by the Catalan Government, which will allow us to study this species along the central Catalan coast.
