What have we learned about the Franciscana dolphin? Enough.

CAPPOZZO, H.L.

San Clemente del Tuyú

Congreso; ESOCC Franciscana WS 2019, Argentina, 4. ? 6. November 2019; 2019

Yaqu Pacha, IUCN

Our lab has been pursuing studies on this species since the beginningof this century, trying to answer questions about it from the ecology,genetics and ecotoxicology points of view, to better know, manage andconserve it. We focus on its southernmost regional area ofdistribution, the Province of Buenos Aires.Our work is based on a multidisciplinary approach, and on thecollaboration with colleagues in Argentina and other countries of theregion, leveraging the combined strengths. The results can be foundin the international scientific literature, which we share with thenational authorities every year.We learned that there are more deaths of these dolphins than whatcan be reasonably expected as a result of fishing. We learned that theyhave heavy metals and toxic compounds in their tissues, and this havenegative consequences in the population. We learned that there arediscrete populations, with no migration and in circumscribed areas,which means they require separate strategies for management andconservation. We consider the FMA IV should be reconfigured.At the beginning of these workshops, the Franciscana Dolphin wasconsidered as insufficiently known by the IUCN, and now we askourselves if it is not about time we consider them in danger ofextinction. Reports, papers and drafts about our next steps abound inour shelves. The only way for a general management and conservationof the populations of Pontoporia blainvillei lies in public policies withstrategic planning for the medium and long term.We learned enough. Now is time for all this knowledge that wastransferred to those who are responsible for the management of ourmarine resources, to be employed to conserve the Franciscana,fostering human development without damaging impact on marinespecies.