Dolphins swim and jump, and hundreds of cranes fly over the blue water as the sailboat “Thera i Luna” sails to meet wild animals that will coexist with dozens of wind farms in the Mediterranean in the future.
Every week, “Thera i Luna”, a 13-meter-long sailboat from the French NGO “Les Peuples de la Mer” (The Sea Peoples de la Mer), completes its mission by embarking on a voyage in Port Rougate in southeastern France.
Twelve big dolphins swim in the aftermath of a fishing boat where a flock of birds flew in the morning sun.Cetaceans do not dare to approach “Terra ai Luna”.
On board, three experts write about the wildlife in the area. “You have to be patient, they will get used to us and “come” towards the ship, says Serge Briez, founder of the association.
His colleague, ornithologist Alexandre Hamon (Alexandre Hamon) and Sonia Gara of the Breech Cetacean Conservation Society, approach the bow with binoculars and a camera in hand.
With a passion for the sea, they want to complete research on the impact of wind farms on wildlife, almost unexplored terrain, and hope that the discovery will be taken into account.
- Observe and protect -
Large dolphins that weigh several hundred kilos and can measure up to 4 meters are rarely on display.But this time luck smiled at the sailors. The cetaceans are there and they finally approach and fiddle around the hull.
“The existence of large dolphins was not known until Breach began research in the region in 2007,” says Sonia Gara, in Lucate, on the northwestern tip of the Mediterranean, a few kilometers from the Spanish border.
“It is rare to be able to observe like this for two hours,” says Serge Briez. pointed out the “intelligence” of an unknown species.
On the horizon, the snow-capped peaks of the Eastern Pyrenees make up the postcard landscape.
Sonia Gara closely watches marine mammals. “We have identified individuals with dorsal fins. This fin is unique, it is equivalent to a human digital footprint, which allows us to record and monitor movement in the Mediterranean.
After a wonderful encounter, the three navigators continue their work, sorting out different animals, including many birds, for 10 hours.
Cranes, little penguins, puffins, tridactyl seagulls... ornithologists conscientiously register on tablets to feed the naturalist portal, Faune France.
Then the ship reaches the “observation signal”, about 15 km from the coast, where an experimental wind farm will be installed next year.
- Real impact “Unknown” -
As in the other two pilot projects on the French Mediterranean coast, this will allow us to complete research and other studies on the behavior of animals in these places that were previously unprecedented.
For the first time, sensors can detect the traffic of birds that could be damaged by the blades of the plant, both day and night, explains Serge Briez that it is near a place where there is a huge wheelbarrow where turbines will rest.
Without waiting for the results of these pilot projects, French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced two tenders to build two floating wind farms capable of supplying electricity to one million people in the Mediterranean by 2030.
And this despite the fact that several voices were heard to ask for postponement during the public debate that took place between July and October.
“We are not against offshore wind projects, but previous studies are weak or incomplete,” Briez said. I say that.
Pointing out that the real impact on fauna is “not yet known”, he believes that “years of research will still be needed” to accurately assess the results of its implementation.
The founder of oenegé is concerned about the “accumulation of human activities, such as fishing, leisure and wind,” which can modify “rest, silence and feeding areas” and “cause the decline of fragile species, such as large dolphins.”
DMC/FPP/PB/DBH/ZM