Mediterranean Coast Day is celebrated on September 25th.
September 23, 2018 - Did you know that it is forbidden to swim with dolphins and feed them in Croatia? And did you know that the beloved sea animal should not be approached from behind, and a distance of no less than fifty meters should always be kept between you and the animal?
These rules of behavior are published in a bilingual leaflet by the Blue World Institute - an association whose activists conduct studies of the dolphin population in the Mediterranean. The Institute boasts the longest continuous scientific research in the field, since its founding in 1987, and has become an example of good practice in the world.
Apart from their home base in Lošinj, which is active throughout the year, the Institute also has a research center on the island of Vis, which had a slightly extended season this year. The Vis base for dolphin exploration is led by young biologist Maša Frleta Valić. As part of Mediterranean Coast Day at Strossmayer Park (Đardin), Valić is presenting the work of the Blue World Institute and has revealed how one day in the field looks.
"We explore depending on the weather conditions. We look for dolphins when we enter the bay, and when we see them, we try to photograph them. The most important thing to look for is their tail on the left and right sides because dolphins differ so much from one to the next,” Maša Frleta Valić explained.
Asked if the dolphins approach the researchers, Valić added that it depends on their mood and circumstances. Six to seven dolphins swim in groups on average, and everyone who studies dolphins should know to take special care with dolphin calves and do not disturb them.
Visitors to the Mediterranean Coast Day event are shown a ten-minute film about these beautiful animals, and about the dolphin adoption project.
As the head of the Dolphin Research Center on Vis said, at present, four dolphins can now be adopted: Duju, Elmara, Elsa and Nola. There are several packages, and everyone interested can get acquainted with the details of this noble action today at Đardin from 4 pm and on Tuesday at 2 pm at the stand of the association. For those who can’t make it, you can find more information on the Institute's website www.plavi-svijet.org.
The Blue World Institute also welcomes volunteers!
