WHALE WATCHING AT ELBA
The island of Elba on the coast of Tuscany is best known as the place of confinement of Napoleon in 1814, but it is now making its name as an important centre of Whale Watching and marine ecological research.
The seven islands of the Tuscan Archipelagos, of which Elba is the the biggest, are all part of the Pelago Sanctuary for Marine Mammals, a marine nature reserve that extends for 90,000 sq.km between the coasts of Italy, Southern France and northern Sardinia, that was established in 1999 and hailed as the first International High Seas Marine Park
The area provides the main feeding ground for fin whales in the Mediterranean and Whale Watching boat trips are regularly available from Elba. Sightings of whales, dolphins and other marine mammals are possible all year round, though it is recommended to avoid the high season months when increased human activity and noise disturbs the animals. This month Elba held the 6th edition of the formation course to obtain “High Quality Whale Watching” certification, instituted by the research foundation CIMA (Centro Internazionale Monitoraggio Ambiente CIMA - International Centre of Environmental Control), sustained by the Tuscan Archipelago National Park.
M.STENHOUSE
Info: Tel. +39.02.89054160 www.visitelba.info info@centroricercacetacei.org