February, 2008
Georgia: Towards the development of national cetacean stranding network
Georgia is a party of ACCOBAMS since June, the 1st, 2001, and the Georgian cetacean stranding network (CSN) operates eleven years, since February 1997, covering the southeastern coast of the Black Sea between Cape Anaklia and Sarpi (about 100km of the coastline). The Georgian territorial waters are known as, probably, the most important wintering area for Black Sea harbour porpoises and common dolphins. Both cetacean subspecies occur in high densities very close to the shore at those places; they visit routinely local fishing areas, anchorage sites and harbors (Fig. 1) and, thus, they may usually undergo various anthropogenic threats. Therefore, the well-developed national CSN seems to be one of essential needs for the monitoring of cetaceans in Georgia.
Fig. 1. Harbour porpoises in the port of Batumi.
Photograph taken by Irakli Goradze.
The Meeting on the Development of CSN in Georgia took place on 15 January 2008 in the Batumi Centre for Environmental Monitoring and Prognostication. The meeting was organized by Georgian and Ukrainian environmentalists and scientists with managerial assistance from the Government of Adjara Autonomy and financial support from ACCOBAMS within the Project on the Development of Black Sea CSNs (2007–2008). Fifteen participants of the meeting represented ten governmental and nongovernmental organizations including the Batumi Centre for Environmental Monitoring and Prognostication, Batumi State University, Department for Protection of the Environment and Natural Resources of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, ‘Flora and Fauna’ NGO (Batumi), Georgian State Inspectorate for Protection of the Black Sea, Kolkhida National Park (Poti), and ‘Psovi’ NGO (Batumi) (Fig. 2). The invited lecturers came from the ‘Black Sea Council for Marine Mammals’ international NGO and Brema Laboratory (Simferopol, Ukraine).
Fig. 2. Discussion on the methodology during the CSN meeting in Batumi.
Photograph taken by Giorgi Komakhidze.
The meeting was divided into three parts following provisionally agreed topics: (a) overview of current situation in CSNs operating in the ACCOBAMS area and, specifically, in the Black Sea region and Georgia; (b) transfer to Georgian specialists and amateurs of practical experience accumulated in the Ukrainian Network for Cetaceans Monitoring and Conservation; and (c) open discussion on needs and perspectives of development of the Georgian CSN and on its further cooperation with similar networks in other Black Sea countries (the agenda of the meeting is annexed to this information).
The participants were provided with verbal and printed recommendations on how to record and study stranded cetaceans including the description of basic skills for correct postmortem examination and sampling of cetacean carcasses. One hundred copies of a new poster on ‘How to behave in the presence of a stranded cetacean’ were presented to the Georgian CSN for distribution in public places of the coastal area (Fig. 3).
Next day, on 16 January, the guests from Ukraine were invited to lecture to advanced students and educational staff of the Batumi State University (Faculty of Natural Sciences) on the present state and prospects of research and conservation of Black Sea cetacean populations (Fig. 4). Two hours were not enough to answer on all questions arised from the audience.
Alexei Birkun, Jr.
BSCMM chairman,
Black Sea CSNs project coordinator
Fig. 3. Poster published for the national CSNs by the Black Sea Council for Marine Mammals.
Fig. 4. Lecture given to students and educational specialists (biologists) of the Batumi University.
Photograph taken by Sergey Krivokhizhin.
Annex
MEETING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CETACEAN STRANDING NETWORK (CSN) IN GEORGIA
Supported by the ACCOBAMS Secretariat1 as a part of the project on the “Development of Black Sea cetacean stranding networks”
Batumi – 15 January 2008
Agenda
Current situation
1. ACCOBAMS priorities and the development of national cetacean stranding networks in the Black Sea region (A. Birkun, BSCMM2)
2. Present state and results of activity of cetacean stranding network operating in Georgia (representatives of the network)
Transfer of skills
3. Methodologies used in Ukraine for the monitoring of stranded cetaceans: A. Design and management of observations (S. Krivokhizhin, Brema Lab)
4. General concept, structure and activities of Ukrainian CSN (A. Birkun)
5. Methodologies used in Ukraine for the monitoring of stranded cetaceans: B. Examination of animals found (S. Krivokhizhin)
6. Notes on cooperation with the MEDACES database, tissue banks, scientific and veterinary community in the ACCOBAMS area
Needs and perspectives
7. Panel discussion on basic needs and perspectives of development of the Georgian CSN and on its further cooperation with similar networks in other countries of the Black Sea region
