Our approach involves targeted monitoring and continuous discussion with fishery operators, including through information and awareness-raising activities.
To achieve this, TursioNet intends to develop an automatic device (and protocol for its use) to detect and report interactions between bottlenose dolphins and artisanal fisheries. The information (i.e. the presence of bottlenose dolphins on the fishing gear) will be sent directly to a terminal on land and will be visible on a map updated in real time.
The device will be able to:
-signal its position and correct operation the moment it is activated and placed on the net;
-signal the geographical position of the network during the drop;
-signalling the presence of bottlenose dolphins around the gear by means of an acoustic signal recognition system;
-based on the acoustic signal analysed by the device (i.e. the acoustic behaviour of the bottlenose dolphins), report the interaction between bottlenose dolphins and fishing gear.

The use of the device (and its protocol) will make it possible to enhance and improve the monitoring of interactions between bottlenose dolphins and gillnets (and their evolution over time) and assess their impact on small-scale fisheries.
The information acquired through this new automatic monitoring technique will enable the following questions to be answered in the future.
-Which fishing areas/units are most affected?
-Is there a seasonality in the depredation behaviour, possibly linked to the behavioural ecology of the bottlenose dolphin and its usual prey?
-Is the phenomenon of gillnet depredation increasing (in space and/or time)?
time)?
-What is the impact on artisanal fisheries?
-What solutions does greater knowledge of this behaviour suggest to
mitigate the conflict (see action A8)?
In parallel with the study and monitoring of interactions between bottlenose dolphins and gillnets, an analysis of cetacean strandings in the intervention areas and of the main causes of death identified will be carried out, with retrospective data retrieval and data from ongoing monitoring activities.
During the project particular attention will be paid to the evaluation of the interaction with fishing activity through the application of standardised diagnostic frameworks developed within the LIFE DELFI18 NAT/IT/000942 Project, which will be shared with the partnership, in order to refine the identification of certain/probable cases and the estimation of a bycatch index in the intervention areas monitored during the project.
The information acquired through the acoustic monitoring activity and the surveys of stranded animals will allow, through a common pathway with the involved fishermen operating within the intervention areas, to identify possible conflict mitigation solutions (best practices).
The TursioNet project will be conducted in coherence with the objectives of the MSFD (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) and the results obtained will be able to contribute to the implementation of the ACCOBAMS plan for the conservation and management of the bottlenose dolphin in the Mediterranean (Mediterranean Bottlenose dolphin Conservation and Management Plan), with particular reference to the management of interactions between cetacean and human activities.