Dear MARMAM Community, here is a link to our paper on intentional harm recorded in stranded marine mammals from 1990-2023 in Croatia: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03826 Đuras M, Kolenc M, Gomerčić T, Gudan Kurilj A, Galov A, Korpes K (2024) Intentional harm in marine mammals stranded dead in the Adriatic Sea, Croatia, 1990-2023. Dis Aquat Org 160:75-93. ABSTRACT: Intentional harm to marine mammals refers to deliberate human actions that cause injury, suffering, or death, and it is illegal in many countries. These actions often result from direct human attacks and are motivated by various reasons, with retaliation by fishermen being the most common. Such attacks cause severe tissue damage, frequently leading to the debilitation or death of the targeted animal. In this report, we document 13 cases of intentionally harmed marine mammals: 12 bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus and 1 Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus found in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea between 1990 and 2023. Our analysis includes the life history data of the attacked specimens, post-mortem findings, and the weaponry involved. Among 311 post-mortem examinations conducted, 4.2% revealed intentional harm. Adult male bottlenose dolphins were most frequently targeted (46.2%), with a majority (53.8%) succumbing immediately due to exsanguination. Shotgun pellets, bullets, and underwater speargun spearheads were recovered from their carcasses. The attacks occurred with no discernible seasonal pattern; however, 61.5% of the cases were recorded from Istria County. Our findings underscore the inadequacy of current surveillance and enforcement in protecting marine mammals from deliberate harm. We advocate for the implementation of educational initiatives targeting relevant groups, intensive sea patrols, and routine inspection of weapons with high penalties for illegal possession and misuse, all reinforced by media campaigns to combat this malicious human behaviour. Kind regards, Martina Đuras _________________________________________________ Prof. dr. sc. Martina Đuras Zavod za anatomiju, histologiju i embriologiju Tel. +385 1 2390 252 e-mail: martina.duras@vef.unizg.hr Heinzelova 55 10000 Zagreb Hrvatska Prof. Martina Đuras, DVM, PhD Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology Tel. +385 1 2390 252 e-mail: martina.duras@vef.unizg.hr Heinzelova 55 10000 Zagreb Croatia [cid:661929f3-98ae-40c3-88d3-d9fbc510e907] IZJAVA O OGRANIČENJU ODGOVORNOSTI. Ova elektronička poruka i svi njeni eventualni prilozi mogu sadržavati povjerljive i/ili povlaštene informacije i namijenjeni su isključivo naznačenom primatelju. Ako niste naznačeni primatelj ili ste poruku primili greškom, molimo Vas da obavijestite pošiljatelja i izbrišete ovu poruku. Svako neovlašteno priopćavanje, distribucija ili kopiranje sadržaja ove poruke izričito je zabranjeno. Sadržaj, stavovi i mišljenja iznesena u poruci autorovi su i ne predmnijeva se da su stavovi Sveučilišta u Zagrebu ili Veterinarskoga fakulteta, stoga Veterinarski fakultet ne prihvaća nikakvu odgovornost za eventualnu štetu koja može nastati primitkom ove poruke i priloga sadržanih u poruci. LEGAL DISCLAIMER STATEMENT. This e-mail and any attachments to it may contain confidential and/or privileged information and is intended solely for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient (or have received this e-mail by mistake), please notify the sender immediately and delete this e-mail. Any unauthorized reproduction, disclosure or distribution of the material in this e-mail is strictly forbidden. The contents, positions and opinions stated in the message belong to the author and it is not presumed that they are positions of the University of Zagreb or Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, hence Faculty of Veterinary Medicine does not accept any liability for possible damages caused by the receipt of this message and the annexes contained in the message.
