National Workshop for the Conservation of Lahille’s bottlenose dolphin takes place in Argentina

The meeting brought together scientists, non-governmental organizations, and representatives from different government agencies, with the aim of discussing recent advances and strengthening the implementation of the actions outlined in the Conservation and Management Plan (CMP) for Lahille’s bottlenose dolphin in the country.

During the workshop, the scientific coordinator of the CMP, Pedro Fruet, presented the progress achieved in Brazil and Uruguay through the implementation of the Gephyreus Project, highlighting the strengthening of trinational cooperation and the positive impact of the collaborative work carried out over recent years. His presentation provided context for the advances achieved through monitoring, institutional coordination, and the production of scientific knowledge aimed at the conservation of the species at a regional scale.

The program included an open session on the first day, with the participation of NGOs, researchers, and representatives of the Argentine government, dedicated to presenting advances related to the conservation of Lahille’s bottlenose dolphin in the country. On the second day, activities focused on a closed technical session aimed at discussing strategies to operationalize the actions foreseen in the CMP for Argentina. A technical report with the outcomes of the workshop is expected to be prepared in the coming months.

The event also highlighted the resumption and expansion of research efforts in Argentina, including monitoring in San Antonio Bay and the first systematic photo-identification efforts in areas such as Bahía Blanca and Bahía San Blas. The workshop was supported by Yaqu Pacha and Fundación Azara and was coordinated by Lorenzo Von Fersen and Magdalena Arias, with the collaboration of several researchers involved in conservation actions for the species. The organization of the meeting reinforces the collective commitment to the protection of Lahille’s bottlenose dolphin across its entire distribution range.