A study reports that bottlenose dolphins in the Adriatic Sea increasingly rely on fishing trawlers to scavenge for food. Researchers observing dolphins near fishing activity off the Marche region of Italy found that dolphins are frequently seen following trawlers rather than foraging independently. The report says that up to 76% of trawlers inspected were followed by dolphins, suggesting a pattern of dependence that may reflect difficulties finding natural prey.
The findings are linked to long-term impacts of bottom trawling on the Adriatic seabed. Scientists say decades of trawling have damaged the ecosystem and reduced the presence of apex predators that would normally help structure food webs. With fewer predators and diminished prey availability, dolphins appear to turn to food resources made available by fishing operations.
One account also notes that baby dolphins may learn the scavenging behavior from their parents, indicating the pattern can be passed within groups. Across outlets, the study frames trawler-following as evidence of stress in feeding opportunities in an overfished marine area.
