Dolphin watching at the entrance to the Sado estuary in Setúbal will be banned during the month of August to protect the animals, according to information from the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF).
For the second consecutive year, it will be The presence of maritime-tourist and recreational vessels is prohibited at the entrance to the estuary.
“These exceptional measures during the bathing season are primarily intended to reduce disturbances associated with human presence, thereby protecting the Sado bottlenose dolphin population,” the institute said in a statement on its website.
According to ICNF, there are around 27 bottlenose dolphins in the Sado estuary, including five calves, some of which are over 40 years old.
The ban decision stems from the findings of a study conducted in 2022, which “highlighted the Vulnerability of this population due to its small number and low probability of growth until 2030.”, he says.
Whale watching and maritime tourism activities will continue to be allowed on the Costa da Arrábida, the Costa de Troia and the rest of Sado, it added.
Source: Observadora
