This day was established to unite all countries and the world community to preserve marine animals, and therefore the unique ecosystem of the World Ocean.
Science plays a significant role in preserving marine mammals. Specialists from the Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) constantly monitor their condition and numbers, study migration routes and factors affecting their vital activity, and develop measures to restore populations of marine animals.
The number and offspring of seals in inland and marine waters are estimated using UAVs, thermal imagers, machine vision systems and artificial intelligence.
In the Far Eastern, northern and southern seas, ship-based surveys of the occurrence of cetaceans and their interaction with fisheries are regularly conducted.
In the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, the institute's specialists monitor walrus rookeries, study the reproductive biology, nutrition and seasonal migrations of gray and Greenland whales, and their relationships with predatory killer whales. These studies are necessary to assess the role of cetaceans in the ecosystems of the seas and oceans.
One of the serious threats to mammals, leading to their death, is accidental entrapment in fishing gear. Currently, VNIRO scientists are developing methods for recording and transmitting sounds in water, and conducting hydroacoustic research to deflect marine animals from fishing nets.
VNIRO Press Service