Investigating the effects of underwater noise from two vessels on the behaviour of short-finned pilot whales.

Multiple whale-watching vessels may operate around cetaceans at any one time, and targeted animals may experience underwater noise effects. We hypothesised that the cumulative noise of two vessels with low source levels (SLs) will elicit lower behavioural disturbance in short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) compared to a single vessel with a higher SL. We measured the behaviour of whales during 26 controls (stationary vessel >300 m) and 44 treatments off Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain).

Lessons from bright-spots for advancing knowledge exchange at the interface of marine science and policy.

Evidence-informed decision-making is in increasing demand given growing pressures on marine environments. A way to facilitate this is by knowledge exchange among marine scientists and decision-makers. While many barriers are reported in the literature, there are also examples whereby research has successfully informed marine decision-making (i.

Recreational snorkeling activities to enhance seascape enjoyment and environmental education in the Islas Atlánticas de Galicia National Park (Spain).

Marine ecosystems provide goods and services for human well-being, and many of them correspond to cultural ecosystem services (CES). In Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), recreational activities such as snorkeling have increased recently, taking advantage of CES. However, there is a lack of educational initiatives in temperate areas to promote seascape enjoyment and pro-environmental behavior among these users, in contrast with other coastal areas such as subtropical and Caribbean ones.