The Institute for Nature Conservation and Forestry (ICNF) has announced that dolphin watching and the presence of maritime-tourist and recreational vessels are prohibited at the entrance of the Sado Estuary for the third consecutive year.
Additionally, the observation of cetaceans is banned from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM in the Sado Estuary and adjacent marine area throughout August, the statement said.
This decision follows the conclusions of the 2022 study “Carrying Capacity Reassessment for Cetacean Observation in the Sado Estuary and Adjacent Marine Area,” which proposed measures for protecting the resident bottlenose dolphin population (Tursiops truncatus) currently numbering 25 individuals, according to the ICNF.
The exceptional measures in place this August are primarily intended to minimize disturbances caused by a high number of vessels and ensure the free movement of dolphins at the estuary’s entrance, thus contributing to the protection of the Sado’s resident bottlenose dolphins, justified the ICNF.
The statement also clarifies that dolphin watching activities will continue, except in the specified locations and times.
A tourism operator reports that around 30 boats from various licensed companies offer dolphin watching in the Sado Estuary, while some operate without proper licensing.
