The bottlenose dolphin is a common species in the Mediterranean Sea and is regularly found in the waters of the Pelagos Sanctuary with an estimated abundance of around 1,000 individuals and a heterogeneous distribution on the continental shelf, where it constitutes resident geographical units (Gnone et al. 2011).
This species shows remarkable behavioural plasticity and quickly learns to exploit the gear and fishing methods currently used to supplement its diet.
This behaviour can trigger conflicts with fishermen (with particular reference to artisanal gillnetting) and is a cause for concern in many areas of the Mediterranean (Pace et al., 2003; Lauriano et al., 2004; Diaz Lopez, 2006; Brotons et al., 2008; Gonzalvo et al., 2008; Blasi and Boitani, 2012; Crosti et al., 2017; Buscaino et al., 2021).
However, the actual scale of the problem remains poorly understood, as does its evolution over time.

In relation to the above, the TursioNet project has four main objectives:
– develop an automated system (and a protocol for its use) to map and
monitor in real time the interactions between bottlenose dolphins and gillnets and their evolution over time
– estimate the impact of bottlenose dolphins on artisanal fisheries;
– estimate the impact of gillnets on the geographical units of bottlenose dolphins residing in the intervention areas (by-catch, accidental ingestion of nets, other);
– identify, through a common pathway with fishermen, possible strategies for
conflict mitigation.