Dolphins may also suffer hearing damage from chronic exposure to trawler noise. However, finding sufficient prey away from trawlers in an overfished sea may be too difficult.
“It appears that for these animals, taking the risks is better than going hungry,” Reeves said.
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The learned behavior has become a cultural transmission within the local marine ecosystem.
“The baby dolphins follow the trawlers with their mothers, watch the adults foraging and learn that kind of behaviour.
It is transmitted culturally,” Bearzi added.
The study notes that other dolphin species have suffered severe declines in the same ecosystem. Common dolphins have virtually vanished from the Adriatic except for a few hotspots.
“The common dolphins are not common any more,” Bearzi said. “One species has gone and that is not a good sign.
It’s a warning sign.”
The scientists urge authorities to restrict destructive fishing to allow marine biodiversity and fish stocks to recover.
“If you stop destructive fishing, the marine resources would bloom very quickly.
Dolphins would be able to feed again on their natural prey, as they did for centuries in this same area,” Bearzi said.
The authors advise fishery managers to implement less damaging harvesting methods.
“Fish less. Fish in less destructive ways.
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This is really the message,” Bearzi said.
