Rescue Center

Rescue of marine wildlife

In June 2014, Palma Aquarium signed a technical assistance contract with the COFIB and the Conselleria de Medio Ambiente to be officially recognised as the Centre for Recovery of Catalogued Marine Fauna of the Balearic Islands.

Since then, Palma Aquarium has been responsible for attending the stranding's of sea turtles and cetaceans that occur on the coast of Mallorca by coordinating work teams in Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca.

One of the most important aspects of this work is to ensure that injured and/or sick specimens that reach the coast receive veterinary care and to ensure their recovery and subsequent reintroduction into their natural environment.

Recovery of sea turtles

The loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta is the most abundant species of sea turtle in the Mediterranean. It is included in the Spanish Catalogue of Endangered Species and belongs to an extensive wildlife recovery programme.

In recent years, there has been an increase in impacts affecting sea turtles. At the moment, the greatest threat to sea turtles is being catched with "ghost fishing" gear.

Cetaceans

Cetaceans are extremely vulnerable species and have become real indicators of the health of marine ecosystems. Their conservation problems are a direct consequence of human activity. Sometimes, they suffer from critical situations that lead them to strand on the coast.

Since 1993, the Conselleria de Medi Ambient has been developing a cetacean conservation programme. In 2014, Palma Aquarium joined this programme by systematically assisting the stranding of cetaceans. An extensive information network has been set up, which includes a 24-hour on-call telephone number in cooperation with the 112 emergency service. Photographs, biometric data and samples are taken from stranded specimens. Living animals are being cared for while well-preserved carcasses are prepared for necropsy and sampling.

Sharks

Recently, a collaboration has been established between the Regional Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Palma Aquarium Foundation to attend to the presence of disoriented and/or sick sharks near the coast and to draw up an annual register of them. We take an active part in the shark conservation campaigns that coincide with the European Shark Week held annually in October. In addition, since 2012, Palma Aquarium is a member of the international Shark Alliance. This coalition is made up of more than 60 non-governmental organisations dedicated to the restoration and conservation of shark populations by improving fishing legislation in Europe.