What should you do if you find a marine animal in distress?

The Mediterranean is a sea teeming with life, home to a multitude of cetaceans, turtles and sharks of great ecological value, which help to maintain the balance of the ecosystem. Some of these species are seriously threatened, mainly due to the impact of human activities.

Whilst out sailing, we may come across animals in distress, sick, injured or even dead. Your help is essential to protect marine wildlife. Below is the protocol to follow in these situations:

1. Call 112. The emergency services will tell you what to do.

2. Never go into the water to help or remove a drifting net that is entangled around the animal. This puts your life at risk.

3. Keep your distance

4. If an animal is entangled in marine litter, do not remove the litter from the affected area.

5. Record as much information as possible: take photos, note the GPS coordinates, the time and place of the sighting, and the animal’s approximate size and weight.

Following this protocol can save animals’ lives and help protect our ecosystem.