K ETOS
N0. 7/ May 2019
JDC MAGAZINE
The Coral Reef
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In this issue SCIENCE
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TARANTO NURSERY OF CETACEANS
NATURE
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IN THE DEEP BLUE The coral reef
CURIOSITY
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WHEN EUROPE KILLS
10 THINGSTOKNOW
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10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT Bioluminescence
JDC NEWS
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IT’S SPRING! The culture of the sea is blooming
OPEN SPACE
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READERS’ MAIL YOUR SHOTS
Edited by: Carmelo Fanizza JDC Chairman and founder Vittorio Pollazzon Head of team and Contributor Stefano Bellomo Head of team and Contributor Francesca C. Santacesaria Editor and Contributor Aldo Rizzo Contributor Pasquale Bondanese Contributor Roberto Crugliano Contributor Alessandro Console
Graphic designer Elena Montrasio Editor
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TARANTO
NURSERY OF CET
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O
TACEANS
SCIENCE How long have dolphins been in Taranto? The answer is very simple: dolphins have always been in Taranto and in the waters of the Gulf. Tales between truth and myth reveal their existence in our sea even before the city of Taranto was founded some centuries before Christ. And then, the stories of the fishermen prove the continuous presence of great whales and dolphins in the waters in which we usually sail. So, the sea of Taranto and the territories that overlook the Gulf have always been a favorite habitat for different species of cetaceans but some questions arise spontaneously. Are they just passing through or is the Gulf their home? Do they come here just to feed or is this also an important area for their reproduction? Striped, Bottlenose, Common and Risso’s dolphins and Sperm whales. These are the species we commonly encounter. Among all these species the striped dolphin, the bottlenose dolphin and the grampus were found resident in our sea as we find them throughout the year and we observe them in multiple behaviours, from resting to hunting, from "traveling" (that is, moving to other areas) to socialization. For all three species we have been lucky enough to observe the presence of calves accompanied by their mothers. We have never seen the birth of a 7
Sperm whale
Risso’s dolphin
Striped dolphin
Bottlenose dolphin
already able to swim to follow the mother that after birth accompanies the calf to the surface to make it breathe. In this operation sometimes the mother is assisted by other females, generally related to her and who are called escort.
cetacean in nature and, in general, the scientific community really knows very little about this wonderful moment in the open sea. What is known of birth in nature is that, for all cetaceans, it is podalic, that means that the calves born from the tail and are 8
For the first few hours of life the dolphin's dorsal fin is not yet sturdy and hoisted upwards but is folded back on itself. Here, this is precisely the show we could assist: calves of a few hours of life, accompanied by mothers with whom they swim a little breathless
SCIENCE
and who gently help them stay afloat and breathe. To recognize cetaceans at this stage, with a few days of life, we also observe the so-called "fetal folds", that are the folds of the skin, a feature common even to newborn children. The females of striped, bottlenose and rissso’s dolphins reach sexual maturity more or less in the same period, that is between 6 and 12 years of life, the gestation lasts for about 12 months and they almost always gives birth to only one calf. The weaning period is around 16-18 months and the calves, whether they are females or males, they remain tied to their mothers up to about 6 years of age. Between one gestation and another there is a pause of 2-4 years.
Striped dolphins and Bottlenose dolphins have a very intense social life, defined as "fission-fusion". In short, the social life of these animals is characterized by the continuous meeting and separation of family groups that, in our area, come together to socialize and separate to hunt. The calves of these two species, once they become sub-adults and then adults, if male, tend to separate from the original group to join other groups or other individuals of the same sex and of the same age, continuing to live in a very dynamic and fluid society . For the rissso’s dolphin the social organization is completely different: they have a less dynamic society, in which the females tend to stay more with the group they belong to. 9
Thanks to the "photo identification" monitoring technique, we are able to recognize every single individual of the Bottlenose and Risso’s dolphin population and from the analysis of the data we can study the mother-calf relationships for several years and observe when, the same dolphin mother, give birth to a new calf throughout their lives. So we can tell you the story of "Meno and Bip", rissso’s dolphin mother and her calf, which we observed a few days after its birth and showed clear fetal folds on its body. We have observed them for the first time together in September 2017 and with great wonder we have re-observed the little Bip, which has grown a lot, in the summer of 2018, always alongside its big mother. And there are also "Surf and Mario", another story of a mother Risso’s dolphin (Surf) and her calf (Mario) who were observed for the first time together in summer of 2018 and in April 2019 the "small" Mario was initially sighted, while swimming alone in the bow waves of our boat. Immediately next to him appeared its mother "Surf" who watched it from far. Actually, we should not be surprised by the fact that, in a few months, calves have grown a lot in size and body. Breast milk from cetaceans is among the most nutritious in the animal world and allows calves to grow quickly and become able swimmers in the shortest possible time, both to be able 10
Meno & Bip 2017
Surf & Mario 2018
Mario 2019
SCIENCE 2018
the one observed in 2016.
to support the rest of their family group, and to be able to escape from predators such as the big sharks or killer whales. For the other two species observed in our sea, the common dolphins and sperm whales, we cannot say as much as we say for the other species. The common dolphins, unfortunately, are rarely sighted and never with calves while the sperm whales have been sighted with calves but to date we do not have the certainty that the Gulf of Taranto is used by them as nursery. In July 2016 we sight a calf a few years old for the first time and then we sight it again the following october accompanied by its unit of 6 other individuals. In September 2018, we sight a new smaller calf also accompanied by its unit of 6 individuals, different from
This confirms the idea that our warm and rich in food waters are an important habitat for these units, which are almost certainly composed by females. Sperm whales have a strong matriarchal structure and a new female born will never abandon her unity and will remain within it throughout her life. The bonds between the individuals of the same unit, in fact, are fundamental in the life of these giants of the deep to such an extent that a real baby-sitting is realized when a mother dive into the depths to hunt and the other females of the group tend and protect the small while awaiting the emergence of the mother.
The Gulf of Taranto, therefore, lends itself to be a "nursery of cetaceans", a place to be protected and enhanced to the fullest. Stefano Bellomo
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Into the DEEP blue…
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THE CORAL REEF COMPLEX ECOSYSTEMS. These are hexacorals, of the order Scleractinia, with a skeleton of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) whose sedimentation leads to the formation of coral reefs. Each coral is made up of thousands of identical individuals called polyps, each specimens is only a few millimetres large. The yellow-brown color of most corals is due to the symbiosis with dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium microadriaticum), microscopic algae mostly unicellular and flagellated. A LITTLE BIT FOR ALL. The algae, thanks to photosynthesis, supply the polyp with energy in the form of sugars, produce oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide which could damage the calcareous skeleton of the polyps. In exchange, the polyps offers nutrients (phosphates, nitrates, etc.) and protection for host algae. The temperature must be major than 18-20 ° C. For this reason, most of the coral reefs are located in the intertropical belt with particular abundance around the equator.
SCARED OF THE DARK! For the survival of the symbiotic Zooxantellae and therefore of the polyps, light is fundamental. For this reason, the depth never exceeds the limit of the photic zone.
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Coral reef are complex ecosystem in which different species coexist
THEIR DISTRIBUTION The distribution of coral reefs is limited to tropical seas, identified by the isotherm of 20°C, between 30 ° N and 30 ° S of latitude. With a total extension of 600,000 km2 the coral reefs are present in three main geographical regions: the Indo-Pacific region, which includes the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as Africa and Hawaii (Coral Triangle); the Western Atlantic region, from Florida to Brazil; and the Red Sea region. This biogeographic division implies the presence of different communities in each area. According to one study, the Indo-Pacific region represents the richest, with over 75% of all known hermatipical coral species.
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The ecosystem is maintained thanks to the balances between prey and predators in which there is never an absolute winner: a species wins over a second but is a loser against a third. This very high competition lead the processes of speciation and consequently the increase in biodiversity, making these habits an "hot spot" with a great variety of animal and plant species. In addition to marine phanerogams such as the genus Thalassodendron and mangrove, among the primary producers we remember numerous encrusting red algae, such as those of the genus Porolithon considered the main bio-constructive algae of the coral reef, and the green algae of the genus Caulerpa or the species Halimeda tuna.
NATURE
Paracanthurus hepatus
Siganus stellatus
Diadema setosum
The primary consumers are fundamental to limit the settlement and growth of algae that could hinder the survival of corals. Sea urchins, crustaceans, molluscs and various species of fish are among the most active herbivores of the reef. For example, the Diadema setosum, a black hedgehog with long poisonous spines, represents the most important grazer of the reefs. In the same way we remeber, the surgeonfish (Paracanthurus hepatus) named for the presence of a sharp blade on the tail, fond of large-billed algae, the rabbitfish (Siganus stellatus) that feeds on macroalgae, and the parrotfish (Scarus cretensis) that use the robust beakshaped mouth to break the hard corals and feed on the Zooxantellae.
In the next level of the trophic network we find secondary consumers. Among these species, the starfish Acanthaster plancii is one of the main predator of coral reefs: it is able to ingest polyps causing bleaching of the coral. Other "corallivores" are the butterflyfish belonging to the Chaetodontidae family (Chelmon rostratus) which use their protruding snout to feed on coral polyps. Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) with their small mouth blow on the sandy bottom forcing the small invertebrates to get out of the substrate and become prey. And finally, the angel fish (Pomacanthus imperator) of the Pomacanthidae family that feed on zooplankton and small invertebrates, as well as sponges, algae and corals. 15
Scarus cretensis
Alvinella pompejana
Chelmon rostratus
Balistes capriscus
Sparus aurata
Diplodus sargus
Dentex dentex
Epinephelus marginatus
Seriola dumerili
Sphyraena sphyraena
Triaenodon obesus
Carcharhinus melanopterus
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
Acanthephyra eximia
Pomacanthus imperator
Acanthephyra eximia
Oblada melanura
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NATURE However, also corals are predators: they are filter animals and feed on plankton. Following the trophic chain, we find the tertiary consumers. They typically eat secondary consumers, but not only. Among these are the gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata), saddled seabream (Oblada melanura), sargo (Diplodus sargus), dentex (Dentex dentex) and several species of groupers (Epinephelus sp.). Precisely the last one, together with species of the Carangidae family such as the amberjack (Seriola dumerili), and the barracudas (Sphyraena sp., Sphyraenidae family) are considered bio-indicators of good ecosystem health. At the last level of the trophic network, we discover the top predators, like the sharks. Also considered to be representatives of high environmental quality and reef health, the most common species include the whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus), the grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) and the blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus). As we have seen, the true wealth of the coral reef is biodiversity. To date, around 4000 species of fish and 800 of corals have been classified, and it is estimated that 1 to 9 million species of vertebrates and invertebrates live or exploit the coral reef in some way. The ecological importance of such an ecosystem consist in the possibility of the coexistence of numerous species that it offers.
S.O.S CORAL REEF Coral reefs are constantly threatened by human activities: coastal development, overfishing and pollution serious endanger the 85% of the Coral Triangle. The higher temperature of the oceans is causing the expulsion from the coral tissues of Zooxantelles with the consequent bleaching of the same (bleaching). Corals, deprived of their "vital algae", become extremely fragile, a condition that very often prevents their recovery. Furthermore, due to the high amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, which is then dissolved in the sea, we are witnessing a lowering of pH in the oceans. Acidification involves the dissolution of CaCO3. and the reduction of the carbonate ion concentration (CO32-). As a consequence there will be damage to the skeleton and a reduction in the growth rate of the calcareous shells and skeletons.
Roberto Crugliano
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When Europe kills We feel bad when we look at the shocking images of the Japanise massacre that every year occurs in the
then turned into a group game.
body seems to care about them.
The Grindadráp seems to be a feast for locals, hundreds of people are exited to admire this bloody and horrific “show” while pods of pilot whales and dolphins are not only killed but also terrorised in their natural environment. The stunned and confused animals are surrounded by boats and herded towards the coast where they will find hundreds of people waiting for them to pull hooked ropes in their bodies.
200 is the number of pilot wales that have been killed so far in 2019 on the coasts of Fær Øer islands: an age-old tradition called Grindadráp that means “whale killing” anciently practiced to feed the entire population and
This is a cruel and awful death that occurs in agony and what makes everything worse is that we are talking about intelligent and sociable animals that are scared and suffer watching their family members dying. Faroese
Taiji bay but we don’t pay attention to the crimes that are happening in Europe, not far from us. In Northern France and in Fær Øer islands in Denmark, every year the sea turnes crimson due to the bloody slaughter of milions of cetaceans.
These are endangered and obviously protected species but no-
PROTECTION LAWS The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (known as Bern Convention, 1979) protects endangered species like cetaceans. The main aims are to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats but also to cooperate between states giving particular attention to the endangered and vulnerable species. Furthermore, to avoid these massacres, in 1992 the European Commission adopted the Habitats 18
Directive that forbid every type of bothering, killing or capturing these endangered species in all the member states of the European Union. Also the IWC (International Whaling Commission) established in 1946, works to regulate whaling and to adress a wide range of conservation issues including bycatch, entanglement and concept of marine protected areas acheaving enhanced protection of cetaceans.
CURIOSITY
population kills all types of cetaceans: pregnant females and calves are victims of this slaughter. This tradition is regulated by the Faroese authorities and, because it’s a self-governing country of the Kingdom of Denmark, these islands don’t have to observe the European Union directives. On the other hand Denmark, member state of the European Union, has always ignored this situation: in the past she defended Fær Øer islands’ dolphins hunters against activists that where fighting to stop the Grindadráp. Another type of slaughter is what is happening in Northern France where more than a thousand of dolphins have been killed in the last few months. Due to the fact that fishermen and cetaceans cross paths, animals get tangled in nets of fishing vessels or during trawl fishing. Entangled dolphins drown or get seriously injured and then die trying to release themselves
from the nets. Sometimes they are hunted when they are still alive and killed by fishermen on the boats. 90% of the remains of animals that are washed up on the beach, show injured bodies with deep wounds caused by fishing nets, broken flukes and fins. Experts say that 2019 will be the “black year” for french dolphins that will suffer slaughters like the one of Taiji Bay or Fær Øer islands. French authorities are fully aware about this phonemenon and they have tried to do something to solve these problems like using acoustic alarms to scare cetaceans: unfortunately all that isn’t enough to save dolphins from the cruel and horrible massacre that never stops. Vittorio Pollanzon
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10 1.
Bioluminescence
LIGHTS INTO THE SEA
While sailing during the night, when the water brakes in front of the bow, you can live a unexpected spectacle: thousands of shining lights light up the sea. Bioluminescence is a wonderful phenomenon and needs to be known more. Thousands of years before the first Thomas Edison's light bulb, the nature had given to some being the possibility to make light. Bioluminescence is used most by that organisms which use it during the night or in the deep sea aiming to hunt or to eat. For land habitats, there are the fireflies or the glow-worms. This phenomenon allows to generate light to hide or to show oneself, to feed or to escape predators, to communicate or to move into the dark.
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2.
IL MECCANISMO
Everything is based on the chemiluminescence: it's a chemical reaction in which excited molecules release energy like light radiation to return to the previous state. The reaction consists in the oxidation of the luciferin protein by luciferase enzyme with the production of light. Bacteria can achieve bioluminescence only in presence of oxygen. Lots of marine animals make symbiosis with bacteria and by giving them different quantity of O2, can turn on or off their light. The majority, such as fishes, cephalopods, cnidarians and other invertebrates, make light thanks to the photocytes: these are cells which can be isolated or collected into candle jars.
10 THINGSTOKNOW RUBRICA
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THE MILKY SEA
It was 1995 when an American satellite in orbit on the Indian Ocean captured a very peculiar and inexplicable image. A huge bright spot in the darkness of the sea at night off the Somali coast. With an estimated extension of 15500km2, this white and luminous area intrigued a large number of scientists: it couldn’t be a cloud and neither something made by human. And so, what was this strange thing? The authors of this spectacular phenomenon seems to be the bacteria of the species Vibrio harveyi. These organisms, large on average 2 thousandths of a millimeter, multiplying themselves over 100 billion per liter of water, could produce a really powerful luminescence that it can be seen from the space! Noctiluca scintillans
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FESTIVAL DELLA LUCE
From red during the day to blue glow at night, a light show that is witnessed in rivers and seas during the blooming of Noctiluca scintillans. These are bioluminescent single-celled organisms with a flagellum, also known as "sea fire". In the last years their presence and abundance has increased worldwide, offering unexpected scenarios. a festival of light, which on the one hand enchant and on the other worry. In fact, according to experts, this uncontrolled growth seems to be a "climate change effect". Furthermore, the large Noctiluca blooms can have consequences on the food chain: these organisms are voracious devourers of diatoms, the main food of krill. Nocticula competes with them and reduces their source of livelihood. Finally, when Nocticula dies, it releases high concentrations of ammonia in water which can lead to irritation to the eyes and skin of human.
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5.
BIOLOGICAL ENERGY
Popole have always been inspired by the observation of nature and once again they have found in it a great example to make something incredible. In 2014, when the Filipinas were hit by a cyclone and the inhabitants were run out of light, their homes were equipped with buckets of sea water enriched with bioluminescent plankton. In this way, the light returned to their homes. Moreover, a French start-up, colled Glowee, designed real bioluminescence lamps. Starting from the study of the genes responsible for bioluminescence in bacteria that live in symbiosis with squid and jellyfish, they created "bulbs" of bioluminescent bacterial cultures that thanks to the presence of the nutrients necessary for growth and reproduction of bacteria continue to shed light. They started to create shop lighting, advertising signs, street lights and street signs!
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6.
LUCE PER LA SALUTE UMANA
The bioluminescent jellyfish, Aequorea victoria known as crystal jellyfish,emits a series of flashes of green light to disorient its predators. This jellyfish has a variant of luciferin called equorin and presents an accessory fluorescent protein, GFP (green fluorescent protein), which converts blue light into green light. This protein made the crystal jellyfish a Nobel prize. In fact, in 2008, Osamu Shimomura, won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for having isolated and classified this protein. Why is GFP so important? Well this fluorescent protein works as a molecular marker, easily detectable, for the study of cell growth and development processes (particularly important for the study of tumors and neuronal cells), for gene expression studies and many other aspects of molecular biology. In short, the crystal jellyfish has shed light on many aspects of human nature previously unknown!
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8. SEA RAINBOW
When we think to this phenomenon, the image of beaches covered with blue sparkles often appears in our mind. Indeed, the dominant color of this phenomenon in the sea is precisely the blue: in the water these wavelengths is propagated to greater distances and make animals more visible. But this incredible event can be dyed in different colors: from red to yellow and green. For example, the planktonic worms of the genus Tomopteris, when disturbed, emit yellow lights in a burst of sparks. Some small squid during the day, living in the deepest water, use blue photophores and rising to the surface during the night, turn their colour and became green. Many marine organisms can use filters and fluorescent accessory proteins to vary the wavelength of their emissions and therefore the color of visible light.
PLACE TO ADMIRE THIS EVENTS
Look at the sky into the sea that seems to lighten up with a multitude of stars and walk next to this show becomes a magical experience that many people want to try. Indonesia, Australia, California and the Maldives are just some of the places where it is possible to do it. But few people know that they don’t need to go so far. If you take a summer walk at night along the Apulian coast, you can observe the sea that becomes full of blue light. Even better if you go out for a night canoe or boat excursion: when the bow breaks the waves, the little bioluminescent creatures will activate and will give you a wonderful show.
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“This magnificent radiancehad to come from some force with a great illuminating capacity.The edge of its light swept over the sea in an immense,highly elongated oval, condensing at the center into a blazing corewhose unbearable glow diminished by degrees outward. «It’s only a cluster of phosphorescent particles!» exclaimed one of the officers.” Jules Verne – 20000 league under the sea
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10 THINGSTOKNOW RUBRICA
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PREYS AND PREDETORS
10.
DATE BY FLUORESCENT-LIGHT
In the depths of the abyss, bioluminescence can guarantee the survival of organisms and is a useful weapon for defence against predators or for attack the prey. Histioteuthis heteropsis, with its body covered with photophores, sends flashes that depose predators and with bright clouds expelled from the ink pouch directs them towards false objectives. The viper fish, on the
Under the light of the full moon, eels of the genus Kaupichphys seem to find themselves through the activation of their biofluorescence. It seems that these eels, generally shy, come out into the open sea and thanks to their brightness find themselves into the dark of night and meet at the moment of reproduction. Light once again plays a fundamental role for their survival
other hand, has the inside of the mouth covered with luminous points that attract curious prey. It’s easy: they must close the mouth and lunch is served! Also the lanternfish, like Chaenophryne longiceps, attracts its prey close to the mouth illuminating the bait of their line.
and represents an evolutionary advantage: their predators are unable to see that kind of light and, therefore, they can’t find them in the dark of the night. Thanks to fluorescent-light their reproductive success is guaranteed!
Francesca Santacesaria 25
It’s spring!
The culture of the sea is blooming
"To love and protect nature, you
need to discover it" With these words, Carmela Mancini, high school teacher of “Liceo Ferraris” form Taranto, began to explain the reasons that bring her to involve every year her students in our activities on board. With a few simple words She summed up perfectly the reason why every day we decide to go out by the sea and share our knowledge with tourists, students and all the users of our experience. Involving them in our activities, we show nature and sea from a different point of view, discovering the hidden wonders of the big blue and giving a new value to the "sea resources". This is just a small seed from which great things can be born. In this context, during the last month, the "culture of the sea" is spread through the streets and places of the city of Taranto, overcoming its boundaries and involving schools throughout 26
Puglia.
Among books, short films and meetings on the blue economy, Taranto returns to shine as the “city of two seas” and we are happy to take part in this movement. From 2nd to 5th of May at the Castello Aragonese “2 mari di Libri-La fiera della letteratura del mare” (the sea literature fair) took place: stories, novels and pages on the sea came to life filling the great spaces of the castle and echoing in the minds of people. The project born from the idea that books can be a tool for growth and can lead to an active and responsible citizenship. The aims are to overcome the idea of Taranto as the city of ILVA (the biggest steelworks of Europe) and to expand and improve the quality of life of the whole community. For example, the story of the "Balenottera Mar” (literally: the whale called Mar) is a contemporary fairy tale that talks
JDC NEWS
In this atmosphere, it was inevitable to talk about the Blue Economy and the new models of sustainability. First in a meeting held in Monopoli on May 9th and then in a week of school-work activities with the students of the Ferraris high school. about waves, airgun, migrants and solidarity. Important themes that we treat during the presentation of the book with the author Tommaso Di Francesco, journalist of the “Manifesto”. And then, we presented the six months of "KETOS-JDC magazine", an important occasion to speak about our work. This is the true Taranto. This city is not the one of difficulty and of the problems related to work. Taranto is not just a city on the sea but THE city of the sea. There are thousands of tourists, who are entering in Taranto from its main gate: the sea. It is important that the first thing they see is not the chimneys but the dolphins that look out at the arrival of the JDC catamarans for example. Taranto needs a better future and it will arrive soon.
Finally, to make the students protagonists and concious of the importance of the sea, the first edition of the Taranto short film festival, called Corto2Mari, organized by the high school “Liceo Aristosseno” was held from 20 to 21 May at the Teatro Orfeo in Taranto. The 35 competing works made by middle and high school students from Puglia, Basilicata and Calabria and the 15 outof-competition works (of agencies and associations) were screened and judged during these days. The aim of the festival is to highlight the idea of the sea as a fundamental resource for the development of the territory. Francesca Santacesaria
Rocco De Franchi-regional councilor 27
Reader’s Mail I was born and I have always lived far from the sea but I've always missed it. In many different ways all of my choices have bring me to live close to the nature, to the sea and to the animals that live within it. Following this idea, i arrived in the beautiful city of Taranto. Thanks to the Marine biology camp and to International volunteering experience, made by JDC, I had and still have the chance to learn and discover many things about marine conservation. Every day I can see the wonders of Taranto s dolphins: sightings of striped and bottlenose dolphins that jump and socialize next to the catamaran. An unforgettable show that represents the evidence of the beauty of our planet. I understood that we need to take care, respect and protect it. On board of Extraordinaria and Taras catamarans, Italian and foreign tourists and also school groups have the occasion to observe five different cetacean species that live in the Gulf of Taranto. You never know when the sighting happened: sometimes take a short time, other times you need to be patience and wait for it. Meanwhile you can learn from the didactic moments proposed by the biologists on board. Thanks to the Citizen Science the staff can carry out research, develop 28
scientific studies (such as photoidentification and recording of vocalizations by hydrophone) and learn more and more about migration patterns and recognition of these beautiful creatures. The team on board is made up of people who have different skills and knowledge: they combine their strengths and create a winning synergy. The passion that these guys put into their research and into their work can be seen immediately when they talk with you "What I do every day is not for job but for passion because I have the chance to do what I love and to protect it �. And they are right: the protection and conservation of our seas is extremely important because it regulates the climate, generates most of the oxygen we breathe, gives us nourishment and much more. This is an experience that must be lived and that you'll carry in your hearts because it wakes up people awareness.
Clara Mainetti
OPEN SPACE
YOUR SHOTS Enjoy nature. Exploring with respect so that we can understand. Observe the world with different eyes. Be in close contact with dolphins, symbol of freedom. This is what our reader– you– lived on board of our catamaran and told to us with these photos.
Share your photo and experience with us by email at lia@joniandolphin.it
Ph: Clara Mainetti
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1 Martina Ficocelli
2 Clara Mainetti
3 &4 Agata Protopapa
5 Vincenzo Segreto
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