Article 17 web tool

Scientific name used in original MS report if different than recommended: "Stenella coeruleoalba"
Information provided in the field 2.8.2: Reported additionnal information: ||
->Range: Para la estimación del rango se ha efectuado un polígono mínimo convexo (MCP) con las localizaciones encontradas en cada demarcación marina, ya que ha resultado ser el medio más fidedigno de representación, al compararlo con diversos modelos (GAM, Kernel, etc.). Para ello se ha empleado el MCP al 95% mediante la herramienta Home Range Tools para ArcGIS 10.1. ||
->Population: Estima poblacional realizada en el proyecto SCANS-III.
Para determinar el área de ocupación se consideran las cuadrículas que intersecan con el rango y aquellas cuadrículas 10x10 donde hay registros de presencia pero no están incluidas ||
->HabInfo: N/A ||
->Future: N/A ||
->Conclusion: N/A ||
->JustificationThreshold: N/A ||
->Other: N/A

Open Original Report  

Scientific name used in original MS report if different than recommended: "Stenella coeruleoalba"
Information provided in the field 2.8.2: Reported additionnal information: ||
->Range: N/A ||
->Population: N/A ||
->HabInfo: N/A ||
->Future: N/A ||
->Conclusion: N/A ||
->JustificationThreshold: N/A ||
->Other: N/A

Open Original Report  

Scientific name used in original MS report if different than recommended: "Stenella coeruleoalba"
Information provided in the field 2.8.2: Reported additionnal information: ||
->Range: The natural range of Striped dolphins in Irish waters, and marine waters covered by the Directive, is a small component of the species’ wider North Atlantic range (Hammond et al., 2008; Archer, 2009; DEHLG, 2009; Hammond et al., 2017; Rogan et al., 2018), while recent evidence from repeated high quality surveys (Berrow et al., 2018; Rogan et al., 2018) has confirmed that the species probably occurs in Irish waters in all seasons.
The range map provided consists of the species’ recorded and likely predominant natural range based on comparatively recent data (2001-2018) and expert judgement, and is partly derived from 2.3. It consists of a block of contiguous 50km x 50km grid cells distributed in Irish marine waters excluding the Irish Sea, and in coastal areas excluding small enclosed shallow bays.
Prior to 1999-2000, survey effort targeting cetacean species in Irish offshore waters was comparatively limited in coverage, both spatially and temporally. Since 1999-2000 a number of dedicated multi-annual surveillance programmes for cetaceans have operated in Irish waters, with visual and acoustic surveys extending to the limits of Ireland’s EEZ and beyond. With regard to this species it is considered that the years 2007-2018 represent an appropriate period for the evaluation of short-term trends since all survey efforts intensified further during this period.
Sighting records from ongoing dedicated surveillance effort in Irish waters (e.g., Berrow et al., 2010; Baines et al., 2013; Wall et al., 2013; Kavanagh et al. 2017; Berrow et al., 2018; Rogan et al., 2018) provide no evidence of a decline in distribution/range in the recent past. Therefore the short-term trend for Range is considered to be stable.
The long-term trend over the period 1994-2018 is considered to be uncertain for this species due to limited data availability prior to 1999-2000, as outlined above.
The range value derived from the map referred to above is considered to be a revised baseline for this species. This surface area calculation is slightly greater than that reported in 2013.
Since there is no evidence of a decline in range since the Directive came into force the current range is set as the FRR.
There is an assumption that the current range in Irish waters is large enough (a) to encompass all of the ecological variation required by this species during its occurrences therein and (b) to contribute to the long-term survival of the species. ||
->Population: Evidence from multi-annual surveillance programmes (e.g., Ó Cadhla et al., 2004; Berrow et al., 2010; Wall et al., 2013; Kavanagh et al., 2017; Rogan et al., 2018) indicate that Striped dolphins occur widely in south-western and western Irish waters at least, and do so throughout the year. This is particularly the case in outer continental shelf and slope habitats and also in waters over 2,000m in depth.
However recent and comprehensive data for the entire region of western Europe have been lacking until recently, particularly with regard to sufficient temporal (i.e., beyond one or more summer months or one year) and spatial coverage (i.e., spanning continental shelf, slope and deeper abyssal waters, all of which may represent Striped dolphin habitat).
Within the North-East Atlantic, based on aerial survey effort approximately 19,250 Striped dolphins were estimated to occur in the summer of 2016 in waters off western Europe but excluding Ireland (Hammond et al., 2017). A further 353,087 Striped dolphins were estimated from ship-based survey data collected further offshore, in deep oceanic waters to the west and north of Spain, during the same period (Hammond et al., 2017).
Striped dolphin data from Ireland’s ObSERVE Programme (see Berrow et al., 2018 and Rogan et al., 2018) have not yet been integrated into a European-wide assessment of population size for the species, although this should now be feasible given simultaneous aerial survey efforts in the summer of 2016 (Hammond et al., 2017; Rogan et al., 2018).
In a new departure for data acquisition on Striped dolphins in Ireland the aerial surveys carried out under this programme were quite successful in enabling abundance estimates to be derived from the sighting data on small dolphin species. However due to difficulties distinguishing visual records of this species from other smaller dolphins, particularly Short-beaked common dolphins, it was necessary to fold estimates for Striped dolphin into a combined data category (i.e., common dolphin + common/striped dolphin; Rogan et al., 2018).
In seeking to assess and present Striped dolphin population estimates from these wider figures for Irish waters, only the summer estimates from 2015 and 2016 were used, since their sighting distributions better reflected the spatial occurrence of confirmed records of this species (Baines et al., 2013; Kavanagh et al., 2017; Hammond et al., 2017; Berrow et al., 2018; O’Donnell et al., 2018; Rogan et al., 2018). The lower and upper 95% Confidence Limits for combined Common/Striped dolphin only (less Common dolphin) have been extracted and presented in 6.2. This represents the best current approximation for Striped dolphins in Irish waters that could be achieved with information collected within the 2013-2018 reporting period.
Since the ObSERVE-based estimates for Striped dolphin population size are new in methodological terms, raise a number of caveats and assumptions regarding combination of datasets, and represent the first such abundance estimates for Ireland, a realistic baseline value since the Directive came into force (i.e., the FRP) remains unknown. ||
->HabInfo: Use of the range descriptor and range surface area calculation as proxies for habitat and habitat area are judged appropriate for this wide-ranging pelagic and oceanic species. The species’ natural range and thus habitat in Irish waters is a small component of its wider North Atlantic range (Hammond et al., 2008; Archer, 2009; DEHLG, 2009; Wall et al., 2013; Hammond et al., 2017; Rogan et al., 2018).
The quality of habitat for Striped dolphin was determined by consideration of the relevant direct and indirect pressures thought to be acting on the species and/or its functional group, and its habitat within its natural environment. These pressures were evaluated in development of the Conservation Plan for Cetaceans in Irish waters (DEHLG, 2009) and informed by more recent scientific surveillance (e.g., Baines et al., 2013; Hammond et al., 2017; Kavanagh et al., 2017; Rogan et al., 2018), using available data concerning, inter alia, habitat use, population size, distribution and ecology, and threats to the species’ protection (e.g., via natural/biological sources, human sectoral activities, management gaps, etc.).
Striped dolphins may be subject to a number of local and/or regional environmental pressures throughout their range in Irish waters (DEHLG, 2009). However, based on current spatial and temporal data none are considered to be of sufficient impact on the species to be causing a significant deterioration in overall habitat quality in Ireland from a status that is sufficient for long-term survival.
Long-term trends in habitat for Striped dolphin remain uncertain due to insufficient accurate data for this species prior to 1999-2000. However, with improved surveillance and numerous ongoing records of Striped dolphins in the last 18 years, the short-term trend indicates the continued existence of sufficient quality habitat for the species. ||
->Future: Visual records of Striped dolphin in Irish waters indicate a wide and quite regular occurrence of the species in waters overlying the outer continental shelf and slope, and also deeper oceanic basins, off south-western and western Ireland in particular.
Since many significant (i.e., high level) anthropogenic impacts that may affect this wide-ranging species’ distribution are more localised in space and time within this extensive and diverse marine area, the Future prospects for the Range and Habitat for the species are considered to be Good.
A number of pressures that could act upon this species have been identified. The effect of these pressures may operate on a temporary and/or regional scale and some are likely to continue to act as pressures into the future thereby constituting a potential threat.
The impacts on individuals or populations of Striped dolphin in Irish waters are not well understood, partly due to continuing uncertainty regarding its population trends and ecology within Ireland’s marine area. Therefore the Future Prospects for the Population are considered to be Unknown. ||
->Conclusion: Contemporary sightings of Striped dolphins indicate a wide occurrence of this species through Irish offshore waters, from those overlying the outer continental shelf and continental slope to deeper ocean basins (e.g., Rockall Trough, Porcupine Seabight). Hence the Range and Habitat for the species are considered to be Favourable.
While robust and long-term data on Striped dolphin population size and trends in Irish waters as a whole are not available, knowledge of the species’ seasonal distribution and summer abundance in western European waters has improved significantly since the Directive came into force.
There has also recently been an improvement in population abundance data from a large part of the Irish EEZ, yielding new estimates and associated 95% Confidence Limits based on dedicated cetacean surveillance using aerial methods since 2015.
However the population estimates presented here for Irish waters are somewhat uncertain (see 6.17), while available abundance figures for western European waters are also variable with survey season and year and, so far, drawn from different methodologies. Given these features and also that there is some uncertainty in the trajectory of North-East Atlantic populations of Striped dolphin, it is concluded that the Population parameter should be reported as Unknown.
A number of pressures have been identified. While the effect of these pressures may act on a temporary and/or regional scale and some are likely to continue to act as pressures into the future, none is considered to be of sufficient magnitude to be causing an adverse impact on populations of Striped dolphin in Irish waters. Ongoing threats as listed or identified into the future via surveillance will be managed appropriately. Hence the Future prospects for the species are considered to be Favourable.
Based on the assessments for the Range, Population, Habitat and Future prospects parameters, the overall conclusion is that the Conservation Status of Striped dolphin in Ireland remains Favourable. This overall result is the same as the previous Article 17 assessment. ||
->JustificationThreshold: N/A ||
->Other: N/A

Open Original Report  

Scientific name used in original MS report if different than recommended: "Stenella coeruleoalba"
Information provided in the field 2.8.2: Reported additionnal information: ||
->Range: N/A ||
->Population: Annual aerial census were performed between 2010 and 2015 (LIFE+ MarPro) until the ±50 nm limit from the coast, leading to a multi-year mean estimate of 19473 individuals. In the 2016 SCANS III aerial census, Block AB (includes Galician waters) comprised 3039 individuals. Coastal areas present decreasing abundances but, considering the biology of this species in the Iberian Atlantic, info about their abundance in more offshore areas would be necessary to infer about population trend. ||
->HabInfo: N/A ||
->Future: N/A ||
->Conclusion: N/A ||
->JustificationThreshold: N/A ||
->Other: N/A

Open Original Report  

Scientific name used in original MS report if different than recommended: "Stenella coeruleoalba"
Information provided in the field 2.8.2: Reported additionnal information: ||
->Range: Para la estimación del rango se ha efectuado un polígono mínimo convexo (MCP) con las localizaciones encontradas en cada demarcación marina, ya que ha resultado ser el medio más fidedigno de representación, al compararlo con diversos modelos (GAM, Kernel, etc.). Para ello se ha empleado el MCP al 95% mediante la herramienta Home Range Tools para ArcGIS 10.1. ||
->Population: Estima poblacional en base a los ejemplares mínimos detectados en el proyecto Mistic Seas II ||
->HabInfo: N/A ||
->Future: N/A ||
->Conclusion: N/A ||
->JustificationThreshold: N/A ||
->Other: Megaptera novaeangliae presence in Canary marine demarcation area is rare

Open Original Report  

Scientific name used in original MS report if different than recommended: "Stenella coeruleoalba"
Information provided in the field 2.8.2: Reported additionnal information: ||
->Range: "5.1 Considering that marine mammals are migratory and highly mobile species, range surface area is assumed as the maritime waters under Azores and Madeira jurisdiction (including internal and territorial waters and the Portuguese sub-areas of the Exclusive Economic Zone).

5.10 Favourable reference range is unknown according to expert opinion. Marine mammals are highly migratory and their ecological range and distribution are very wide, at the ocean basin scale and, therefore, much greater than the biogeographical region.
" ||
->Population: As estimativas populacionais foram elaboradas com base em amostragem dirigida obtida através do programa oceânico do projeto MISTIC SEAS II. Correspondem à soma das estimativas populacionais dos 2 arquipélagos para uma área de 32.804 km2 para o Arquipélago dos Açores e de 1.907 km2 para o arquipélago da Madeira (34.711km2 de um total MMAC PT = 1.450.200km2=2.39% do total do range MMAC PT). Por esta razão as estimativas MMAC foram consideradas como correspondendo a um valor mínimo (reportado como best single value) conforme indicam as guidelines do Art. 17, para casos em que a área amostrada corresponde a uma subestimativa considerável da área total da região biogeográfica.
Azores: Model-based Abundance=423 22%CV Area=32804 km2 ||
->HabInfo: 7.1 Sufficiency of area and quality of occupied habitat unknown according to the guidelines (habitat area is stable but the quality is unknown - Table 4: Assessing trend direction of habitat for the species) ||
->Future: N/A ||
->Conclusion: Açores: Baseado na opinião dos peritos ainda não há dados suficientes para se poder avaliar o estado de conservação atual da espécie, pelo que se reportou unknown em todos os campos de avaliação. ||
->JustificationThreshold: N/A ||
->Other: A espécie ocorre nos Açores como visitante regular, sobretudo entre a Primavera
e o início do Outono.

Açores:
Campo 2. Os mapas de distribuição foram elaborados com base em registos de ocorrências do Programa de Observação das Pescas dos Açores (POPA) e que são de observação de cariz oportunista e não amostragens dirigidas. No entanto, cobrem uma área de cerca de 20% do range total do Mar dos Açores (200.000km2 de 984.900km2), uma área muito mais abrangente que as áreas de estudo do projeto MISTIC SEAS II (<3% da área total do range MMAC PT).

Campo 6. As estimativas populacionais foram elaboradas com base em amostragem dirigida obtidas através do programa oceânico do projeto MISTIC SEAS II. Correspondem à soma das estimativas populacionais dos 2 arquipélagos para uma área de 32.804 km2 para o Arquipélago dos Açores e de 1.907 km2 para o arquipélago da Madeira (34.711km2 de um total MMAC PT = 1.450.200km2=2.39% do total do range MMAC PT). Por esta razão as estimativas MMAC foram consideradas como correspondendo a um valor mínimo (reportado como best single value) conforme indicam as guidelines do Art. 17, para casos em que a área amostrada corresponde a uma subestimativa considerável da área total da região biogeográfica.

13.3 Azores: For the distribution map the data were collected under the Azorean Fisheries Observer Program (POPA; www.popaobserver.org) and consisted of dedicated visual transects, which were performed following a fixed protocol by fishery observers on-board pole-and-line tuna vessels.

Open Original Report  

Scientific name used in original MS report if different than recommended: "Stenella coeruleoalba"
Information provided in the field 2.8.2: Reported additionnal information: ||
->Range: Para la estimación del rango se ha efectuado un polígono mínimo convexo (MCP) con las localizaciones encontradas en cada demarcación marina, ya que ha resultado ser el medio más fidedigno de representación, al compararlo con diversos modelos (GAM, Kernel, etc.). Para ello se ha empleado el MCP al 95% mediante la herramienta Home Range Tools para ArcGIS 10.1. ||
->Population: Estima poblacional en base a los ejemplares detectados en el ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative (2018). Se considera que la tendencia es estable (en comparación con los 50.000-100.000 comunicados en el anterior periodo). ||
->HabInfo: N/A ||
->Future: N/A ||
->Conclusion: N/A ||
->JustificationThreshold: N/A ||
->Other: N/A

Open Original Report  

Scientific name used in original MS report if different than recommended: "Stenella coeruleoalba"
Information provided in the field 2.8.2: Reported additionnal information: ||
->Range: N/A ||
->Population: N/A ||
->HabInfo: N/A ||
->Future: N/A ||
->Conclusion: N/A ||
->JustificationThreshold: N/A ||
->Other: N/A

Open Original Report  

Scientific name used in original MS report if different than recommended: "Stenella coeruleoalba"
Information provided in the field 2.8.2: Reported additionnal information: ||
->Range: N/A ||
->Population: N/A ||
->HabInfo: The surface area of the habitat is estimated at 486266 km2 (equal to range). ||
->Future: N/A ||
->Conclusion: N/A ||
->JustificationThreshold: N/A ||
->Other: Usually the minimum depth for this species is about 450-500, but occasionally - especially in steep coasts- it can be found at minimum depths of 300 or 200 m. The species is likely to inhabit at least all the available waters above 450-500 m depth. There are no abundance estimations for any part of the territory. A small population of striped dolphins inhabits the inner part of the semi-enclosed Gulf of Corinth. This population is completely isolated from all others found many miles away after large areas of depths and the general habitat conditions that do not allow the presence of the species. This is the unique closed population of striped dolphins known so far all around the world. Because of its small size and its isolation it is extremely fragile and should be treated as equivalent to a subspecies, independently of genetic studies that are still pending.

Open Original Report  

Scientific name used in original MS report if different than recommended: "Stenella coeruleoalba"
Information provided in the field 2.8.2: Reported additionnal information: ||
->Range: Its presence is only regular in the southern part of the Adriatic basin. The more frequent reports of striped dolphins along the northern Adriatic coastline is possibly an expansion of the distribution range as has been reported for other Mediterranean areas (Holcer, 2015). ||
->Population: The striped dolphin is found in the south Adriatic Sea in large herds of some hundreds of individuals, whereas in the northern Adriatic the group size range from one to three specimens (Holcer, 2015).

Data on the abundance of striped dolphins in the whole Adriatic Sea:
aerial survey 2010: 15,343 (0.28; 8,545-27,550) and aerial survey 2013: 41,533 (0.29; 23,511-73,370). These are considered as minimum estimate (uncorrected for availability and perception bias) (Fortuna et al., 2015). ||
->HabInfo: N/A ||
->Future: N/A ||
->Conclusion: N/A ||
->JustificationThreshold: N/A ||
->Other: The Striped dolphin has never been considered as part of the native Croatian
fauna. The first record of a striped dolphin in the inshore waters of the northern Croatian Adriatic was documented only in 1996 (Rako et al., 2009).

Open Original Report  

Scientific name used in original MS report if different than recommended: "Stenella coeruleoalba"
Information provided in the field 2.8.2: Reported additionnal information: ||
->Range: N/A ||
->Population: Data on population size refers to line transect distance sampling in different areas: West Sardinia, Pelagos Sanctuary, Central and Southern Thyrrhenian Sea and Ionia Sea (2010-2014) (Panigada et al., 2017), Adriatic Sea (2010) (Lauriano et al., 2011), Sicily Strait (2016) (Donovan, 2016). ||
->HabInfo: N/A ||
->Future: N/A ||
->Conclusion: N/A ||
->JustificationThreshold: N/A ||
->Other: N/A

Open Original Report  

Scientific name used in original MS report if different than recommended: "Stenella coeruleoalba"
Information provided in the field 2.8.2: Reported additionnal information: ||
->Range: From data collected in the systematic surveys of LIFE+ MIGRATE project (in 2013 and 2014) and the opportunistic surveys of LIFE Malta Seabirds project (in 2013 and 2014) and LIFE BaĦAR for N2K project (in 2015 and 2016), the species has been mostly observed offshore, off the northern to south western coasts of Malta, with rare sightings in coastal waters. However, no definite or critical areas were identified, and the results of the LIFE+ MIGRATE project suggest that Stenella coeruleoalba only migrates through Maltese waters with a variation in occurrence.

In view of the little data available on the species’ distribution in Maltese waters and considering that the species only migrates through Maltese waters, the range trend and Favourable Reference Range cannot be assessed. ||
->Population: From data collected in the various LIFE projects mentioned earlier, small groups of 2-20 individuals and larger groups of approximately 50-70 individuals have been reported from March to October, between 2012 and 2016 in Maltese waters. This indicates a regular presence of this species throughout the year and over time, becoming particularly more common during spring. This suggests that this species only migrates through Maltese waters with a variation in occurrence.

In the systematic surveys carried out through the LIFE+ MIGRATE project (in 2013 and 2014) this species was the most frequent, with a relative abundance of 4 individuals sighted per 100km of effort. The group size ranged between 2 and 70, and showed a mean group size of 27 individuals, making Stenella coeruleoalba the species with the highest mean group size in Maltese waters.

In view of the little data available on the species’ population in Maltese waters, and considering that the species only migrates through Maltese waters, the population trend and Favourable Reference Population cannot be assessed. ||
->HabInfo: Observations of Stenella coeruleoalba are based on sightings data; however, the nature of the habitats and how these are used by the species cannot be determined. As such, the occurrences of the species cannot be linked to habitats critical for their survival. More studies would be required to determine the relevance of the habitat. ||
->Future: N/A ||
->Conclusion: N/A ||
->JustificationThreshold: N/A ||
->Other: In the period under review, various surveys have been carried out, gathering baseline data on cetaceans in the Maltese waters. Together with the systematic surveys carried out specifically for marine mammals and reptiles through the LIFE + MIGRATE, during the summer of 2013 and 2014, other opportunistic surveys for these species were carried out through the LIFE Malta Seabirds project (in 2012 and 2013) and LIFE BaĦAR for N2K project (in 2015 and 2016). Although these have given an indication of the nature of occurrence of the species, further studies would be required to give a more complete picture of the parameters and trends required to assess the conservation status of the species.

Noting the migratory nature of the species, national data will be made available to regional bodies for further studies to be carried out with the aim of addressing remaining knowledge gaps on the Stenella coeruleoalba.

Open Original Report  

Scientific name used in original MS report if different than recommended: "Stenella coeruleoalba"
Information provided in the field 2.8.2: Reported additionnal information: ||
->Range: N/A ||
->Population: N/A ||
->HabInfo: N/A ||
->Future: N/A ||
->Conclusion: N/A ||
->JustificationThreshold: N/A ||
->Other: N/A

Open Original Report