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Balearic marine fauna
In the Mediterranean there are more than 17,000 marine species living under the sea. This is not surprising considering that the Mediterranean is one of the most important seas in the world, and thanks to its climate and environment, it is one of the most lively seas in the world.
Spring is the time of year when marine life is most active and it is the perfect time to see countless marine species while sailing in the Mediterranean.
Marine species that you can find while sailing along the coasts of the Balearic Islands
Sunfish – Mola mola
The sunfish, also known as mole or Mola mola, is one of the strangest and most curious creatures that inhabit our waters, but also one of the most enigmatic because of its unusual measurements and appearance.
The body of this fish is a large head with fins. It can measure up to 3 metres and weigh more than 1000 kg.
As a rule, it is a very calm species, totally harmless to humans.
They move by sticking their fin out of the water and waving it as if it were a salute.
When they are active, it is a spectacle to watch them leap across the surface of the water creating huge splashes.
Jellyfish Velero – Velella velella
Spring is the perfect time to encounter these small hydrozoans, which are completely harmless to humans and are the main food of sunfish.
These small jellyfish have the shape of a sailboat and move with the wind over the sea thanks to their “sail”, forming large clusters that produce a huge blob effect in the middle of the sea.
Striped dolphin
This dolphin is the most common dolphin in the Mediterranean, it is most commonly seen in spring although it lives in our waters all year round.
They are very sociable and playful and as soon as they see our boat they will approach to play.
They are the smallest species of dolphin, measuring a maximum of 2.3 metres. They live at depths of more than 100 metres and normally live approximately 10 miles from the coast.
If you go from Majorca to Barcelona by boat you have a good chance of encountering them on the way, so keep an eye out for them because the show is worth it.
Pilot whale
The pilot whale is actually a type of dolphin, up to 7 metres long and weighing up to 3500 kg. They are recognisable by their jet black colour and because they are very social.
They are always seen in groups and feed mainly on cephalopods, squid being their favourite food, although they can also eat bottom fish.
They are not as fast and agile as other dolphins, but when they appear it is a real spectacle.
Their friendly expression makes watching them a pleasant experience, it gives the feeling that they want to communicate with us, if you stop the boat you will see them dive vertically as if they were an 8 year old child.
Sea Observers Platform
The Observers of the Sea platform, a citizen science portal for collaborating in marine research, brings together all those with a connection to the Mediterranean Sea and compiles experiences and observations on the phenomena occurring in the sea.
This web platform, coordinated by the Institute of Marine Sciences of Barcelona (CSIC), has the participation of experts from different national and international research centres who validate and comment on the observations received. The website has thus become a meeting point for citizens and scientists, with the aim of jointly creating new knowledge. In order to deepen collaboration, training and dissemination sessions are organised for the general public and schools.
All the data provided are public and are collected in maps organised by outstanding observations and observations by projects.
This portal is like a social network, you can write comments, give likes and even upload photos.
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