Month: October 2013

It was an unexpected but welcomed call, when the other afternoon I picked up the phone and heard the voice of the Principal Marine Environment Officer of Dubai Municipality, Mr Khan, reporting that a dead dolphin had been found on the Jumeirah Beach Park.

I said: ” Oh such a sad news…Thank you! Give me an hour and I will be there!”

Strandings are always sad events, and everybody wishes to see dolphins alive rather than dead. But not having any knowledge in resuscitation techniques yet, the only thing we can effectively do is to utilise the unfortunate animal to gather as much information as we can, to hopefully help the live ones. And a stranded dolphin is a pot of gold for researchers!

Within two hours a small team consisting of one skilled veterinarian,  Dr. Ana Salbany, from Dolphin Bay Atlantis the Palm, Traill Stocker from Dubai Dolphinarium and myself were on the site.

It was indeed a dolphin. A small dolphin and surprisingly a finless porpoise!

This is supposedly the rarest species among the three species that are known to occur in UAE waters. It is a small dolphin and as by its name it has no dorsal fin. This, added to his shy and elusive behaviour makes even more difficult to sight and study them.

Very little is known about this species world wide, as very few studies have been conducted, despite the latest Red List Assessment having categorised this species as Vulnerable. Its preference of coastal shallow waters makes it even more susceptible to antropogenic impact.

Finding a dead finless porpoise is definitely a worrying sign and raises concern for the survival of this species (this is the fifth recorded stranding in the Gulf since the beginning of the year), on the other hand it is an indication that this species still occurs in this area.

We managed to collect all the necessary measurements and conduct a full necropsy. We determined that it was an adult male finless porpoise. We collected skin samples for future genetic analysis and examined all the organs. No sign of parasites were found and unfortunately due to the advanced state of decomposition we were unable to univocally determined if the cause of death could have been a boat collision or net entanglement. A full report has been compiled and sent to The Marine Environment and Wildlife Section, Dubai Municipality.

A special thank you goes to Mr. Khan, Dubai Municipality, for contacting us and to the great team that kindly agreed to join me at the site. It has been a successful first attempt and we proved that a stranding network could work if we create a communication channel and enough people that know the importance of reporting stranding.

[slideshow_deploy id=’2041′]

After holding a staff workshop in June, the Environment Health and Safety Department (EHS), the regulatory arm of  Trakhees-Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation (PCFC),  officially endorsed the UAE Dolphin project and is taking active steps to support the UAE dolphin Project raise awareness within its jurisdiction.

In celebration of the International Coastal Cleanup, on September 12th it organised a public workshop to raise awareness about the local dolphin population entitled:  “Public-Private Partnership for dolphin project”.  The workshop, presented by Dr. Ada Natoli and Ana Salbany,  was held in collaboration with Dolphin Bay, Atlantis and highlighted how private companies can play an important role in gathering information about whales and dolphins in the region. Specifically, shipping companies can provide invaluable information by reporting sightings along their shipping routes from offshore areas that are generally difficult to survey. The workshop also focussed on raising awareness about the importance of reporting stranding as crucial source of information for the researchers.

All the major stakeholders based in the Jebel Ali free zone were invited, among those who participated were ENOC, DP World, Sharaf Shipping Company, CSAV Shipping LLC. EHS’s efforts to promote the project continue, broadcasting the project through their partner organisation. We are extremely grateful to Dr. Ahmed Al Falasi, head of the EHS and his team for their great ongoing support and Heidi Perez Cao, Vice president of Dolphin Bay, Atlantis for the great collaboration.

…..and as in all love stories there are ups and downs but if they are good ones eventually they progress forward!

Passion meets passion: Duretti Boat Manufacturing, in the flesh Dan, was the first potential supporter I met when the UAE dolphin project initiative was still in its embryonic stage, with no image and clear structure. Yes, there was the idea and the passion to make it happen, but ideas can easily remain so if they are not translated in concrete actions.

When I told Dan about my idea of the project, explained the lack of information about dolphins and whales in this part of the world and that we were in need of a small boat to run the research survey, Dan simply believed in the idea. And he said: “Yes! I can make a boat for the project! How big do you need it?” and he truly did it! I am sure he will not regret it, although it has taken an immense effort on his behalf.

Dan has always had this great passion for boats that translated in his hobby but he takes it so seriously and with such determination that anyone would struggle to believe that it is only his hobby: “I can use all my money to buy Champagne or I can use it to make something that I like: boats, and these last a lot longer.” he says. So Duretti Boat Manufacturing was born from love, passion and determination and its products can only be outstanding.

I went to visit the boat last November when it was just a shell but you could see it taking shape: it is now a fantastic 30 ft long Duretti Sportfisher with beautiful lines, fantastic space, comfort and two great engines.

We have been through the bottleneck of bureaucracy and the registration process, that is a story itself, but now this fantastic boat has a great name: Harman and it has finally reached the water!

From its birthplace in Umm Al Qwain, on September 16^th, we went to pick it up and we travelled south to Dubai.  Its new home is at Dubai Marina Yacht Club that has kindly agreed to host us for the duration of the research survey.

When passion and determination meet the outcome can only be good! We are positive we will make the best possible use of the boat for a great cause! There are not enough ways to say “thank you” to Dan. Simply without his support we couldn’t have made it where we are today.

Welcome to the project Harman!

[slideshow_deploy id=’2022′]