How many varieties of fish and birds can we encounter while swimming or snorkeling?

Thanks to initiatives such as BioMARató, a citizen campaign promoted by the EMBIMOS group of the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), the marine and coastal biodiversity of Catalonia is being documented through sightings by volunteers throughout the country. The collected images and observations are logged on MINKA, a collaborative platform that creates a living map of the biodiversity of the Catalan coast.

Xavier Salvador, curator date of this platform and researcher at the ICM-CSIC, calls for responsibility when enjoying the sea. As he explains, it is necessary to avoid stepping on the seabed, since many organisms that live there are very sensitive to human disturbance. Regarding marine fauna, Salvador assures that there are very few species that can represent a danger to people. "Like the stingray, which can only cause harm if it feels threatened. Normally, if an animal attacks us, it's because we have provoked it before," he points out. In recent years, the occasional appearance of manta rays, such as the Mobula mobular, near the coast, although they typically live in open water. "When they reach coastal areas, it's often because they're exhausted. If they approach people, it's not to attack them: it's out of curiosity," he explains.

Salvador also recommends that when we go to the beach we never take fish or jellyfish out of the water, even if we intend to put them in a bucket of water. "They get stressed and die," he laments. Finally, he reminds us of the importance of collecting all human waste before leaving the beach. "The waste we generate is not part of the ecosystem. On the other hand, reeds, seaweed, and natural remains are, and it's positive that they are there," he concludes.

On the other hand, according to data from the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, a total of 56 species of seabirds are registered on the Catalan coast, 24 of which are rare or scarce, and 5 of which are considered high priority for conservation. In fact, seabirds are considered the most endangered group of birds on the planet: according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 28% of seabird species are threatened. Factors such as the degradation or destruction of breeding and reproduction habitats as a result of the concentration of human activities in the coastal strip are part of the problem. Therefore, entities such as the CRAM Foundation ask everyone who spends their holidays in coastal areas this summer to take care of their fauna and avoid throwing waste and plastics into their habitat.

Infographic on the role of the ARA Domingo