EL CATXALOT (Physeter macrocephalus) A L'ÀMBIT DEL PARC NACIONAL DE L'ARXIPÈLAG DE CABRERA

The Balearic Sperm Whale Project (BSWP) is a research collaboration between the University of St Andrews and Asociación TURSIOPS that has been studying the population of sperm whales that uses the deep waters to the south and east of Cabrera since 2003. Using acoustic tracking and photo-identification methods the research has shown that these waters are a critical habitat for this species, evidenced by both high densities and also the presence of both mature males and female social groups with calves. The Mediterranean sperm whale population is classified as "Endangered" by the IUCN because of its small size and vulnerability to anthropogenic threats. One of the gravest threats facing these large whales is being struck by ships, as documented by the BSWP with photographic records of individuals carrying visible injuries resulting from non-lethal collisions. It is however unknown how many animals fall victim to lethal collisions each year, and for those that are injured but survive, the effect of the injury on their fecundity and the subsequent cumulative impact on population growth are also unknown. Furthermore, the mere presence of high levels of maritime trafic can cause conservation issues if it causes animals to vacate critical habitat areas such as the waters around Cabrera.