Helping Bicref

Conservation depends on dedicated and accurate work for the survival of many declining wild populations.

Over the past 14 years, the Biological Conservation Research Foundation (Bicref), together with its founder and conservation biologist Adriana Vella, has helped long-term Maltese dolphin and whale conservation research.

For this reason, members of the public are encouraged to send in any reports of their sightings to help this long-term scientific and conservation effort. The foundation has received help from various entities, but cautions that as the number of vessels at sea increases each year with possible repercussions on disturbance of the cetacean populations residing or traversing in our waters, it is essential to keep a 100-metre distance from any encountered species.

Scientific conservation research demands the respect of protocols, which include minimal disturbance to understand natural behaviour and needs of such species. These species are also studied to understand the status of our waters.

Sustained long-term efforts have been possible with the financial assistance of various entities that believe conservation should be undertaken even for species that are difficult to study.

The award-winning Bicref documentary Waves of Life is also the fruit of long-term research assistance efforts that show our seas need effective conservation measures.

The foundation's help to research expeditions around Malta allows for various species to be recorded, including turtles, sharks and rays and seabirds, thus allowing a more holistic and accurate picture of marine biodiversity.

This year, Bicref continues its work on a project launched in 2000 in collaboration with various scuba centres. The Bicref Marine Biodiversity project allows the record-keeping of various indicator species in our coastal waters where scuba diving or snorkelling is undertaken.

For more information, e-mail Bicref at bicref@gmail.com.