This morning, the Consell and the Oceanogràfic of Valencia released 7 seahorses (Hippocampus hippocampus), 24 corals from the gorgonian family (Eunicella singularis, Eunicella cavolini and Eunicella verrucosa) and 2 sea turtles (Caretta caretta) next to the coast of El Saler. These specimens were accidentally captured by professional fishing boats and were transferred to the Oceanogràfic facilities of the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències for recovery and subsequent release into the sea.
The release of the animals has been carried out from a boat with the help of professional divers from the Valencia Aquarium, Gamaser and the NGO Ambiens and has had the participation of the Department of Environment, Water, Infrastructure and Territory and the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the GVA, as well as the president of the Oceanogràfic Foundation, Celia Calabuig, its vice president, Mercedes Calabuig and the president of the RCN of Valencia, Marisa Arlandis.
The Minister of Environment, Water, Infrastructure and Territory, Salomé Pradas, has assured that the protection of the maritime ecosystems of the Valencian Community “is a priority for the Carlos Mazón Council” to weave a sustainable future that guarantees the protection of our environment and that allows us to continue progressing as a society without compromising future generations.”
To do this, according to Pradas “we are going to continue working in close collaboration with different organizations such as Oceanogràfic and fishing guilds to recover and reintroduce species that are caught by accident.” For the councilor, “the involvement of all actors, both public and private, is essential to face the numerous challenges that affect the Mediterranean and that can threaten its rich biodiversity.”
In this sense, the councilor recalled that the Generalitat began, more than ten years ago, together with the Oceanogràfic, a program for the recovery of accidentally captured sea turtles “which has been a complete success and which we now extend to other threatened species such as seahorses.” of the sea, corals or cetaceans.”
For his part, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, José Luis Aguirre, has thanked the fishermen for raising awareness and their collaboration so that marine fauna recovery projects like today’s can be carried out, in collaboration with the Administration.” .
Aguirre has recognized the work of the fishing sector of the Valencian Community, “a professionalized sector, which is modernizing and which seeks to carry out an activity that is as sustainable as possible.” Thus, he has stressed that “fishermen are the first interested in the recovery of accidentally captured marine species.”
The 7 seahorses that were released today, with the assistance of technicians from the Ambiens Association, are the first baby seahorses recovered in the Oceanogràfic facilities.
Regarding corals, it is the fourth release of the 174 specimens recovered during 2023 as part of marine biodiversity conservation efforts.
Among the actions co-financed by the Generalitat through the General Directorate of Fisheries and the Oceanogràfic Foundation are those aimed at protecting species such as sea turtles, seahorses, corals and urchins, as well as determining the causes of death of cetaceans and elasmobranchs.
On the other hand, since this Monday the Maritime Surveillance Service has been launched, which has begun to be deployed off the coasts of El Saler and L’Albufera and which will progressively cover the entire coastline of the three provinces during the summer.
This service will carry out tasks to preserve maritime ecosystems and has involved an investment of 744,000 euros.
