The basins of the Old Port of La Rochelle are full of mullets, fish that feed on larvae, worms and algae that they find in the mud or on the hulls of boats. That is sure which explains that since Tuesday evening, passers-by can see three small dolphins evolve in the Old Port. “There are lots of small fry on the surface, so underneath, there are probably some big ones, and that must interest them” confirms Cécile Dars in charge of strandings at Pélagis, the marine mammal center in La Rochelle which has been monitoring the three dolphins since Tuesday evening with agents from the marine natural park and those from the marina.
The dolphins showed their rostrum (their nose) on Tuesday evening in the main basin of the Old Port. A lock keeper first brought them back by slowly pushing them with his boat into the port channel. But they came back, this time into the trawlers’ basin, where they entered with the tide. They are still there.
If they were rather rare in recent years, dolphin visits are becoming more and more frequent in the Old Port, the previous date is July 2023 “There has clearly been a change in the distribution of animals, they are now closer to the coast and therefore go where there is food, particularly in ports” adds the specialist.
A curtain of bubbles, or an acoustic net to chase them away
If the animals delight passers-by who can observe them from the quays, they disrupt the operation of the La Rochell marinaSo much so that Pelagis thought of a way to get them out of the Trawler Basin where they entered with the tide. But you need to be careful “they are heart animals” indicates Cécile Dars. The center will therefore take the time to study all the hypotheses for “do this well” she says.
The first solution would be to “make nets to repel them acoustically, but without coming into contact with them” explains the specialist. The other hypothesis would be “lay pipes in the bottom of the port to make a curtain of bubbles“. Both solutions require significant logistics, and cannot be implemented this Wednesday. But for now “there is no emergency” she adds.
Indeed, the dolphins do not seem stressed, They have a completely peaceful behavior. Specialists hope they will exit the port on their own. And in the meantime, the mammals continue their feast.
