MARINE MAMMALS (CETACEANS) IN THE SEAS OF KYTHERA

Cetaceans living in the wider Kytherean ecosystem are amongst the many species whose wellbeing and even survival will be dangerously affected, should the existing plans for the construction of industrial wind generator farms on the island be allowed to proceed. Apart from the greatly increased marine traffic between the mainland and Kythera as heavy plant, industrial materials and elements of the gigantic generators are shipped across, the project also calls for the sinking of a 23 KM high-tension marine cable.

The Hellenic Trench area is considered an extremely important ecosystem for a multitude of vulnerable marine cetaceans, having been designated as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) since 2007 in accordance with the intergovernmental convention ACCOBAMS (Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and the Contiguous Atlantic Area). Part of the study area, with emphasis around the island of Kythera, is located within or borders the aforementioned MPA.

Several cetacean species have been reported in the area, including the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), the Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis), the Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), the Fin Whale (Ziphius cavirostris and Balaenoptera physalus), the Blowfish (Physeter macrocephalus) and the Grey Dolphin (Grampus griseus). The area of concern has been characterized as an important habitat for several of these species.

Cetaceans are subject to significant anthropogenic pressures through noise, interactions with fisheries (by catch or removal), chemical and biological pollution and pollution through marine litter, navigation (risk of vessel collisions) and climate change. Noise from the construction and/or operation of ships/equipment/facilities has been identified as one of the most significant threats to marine mammals, affecting their behaviour.