A day in the life of...Joan Gonzalvo Villegas
On my first visit to the Hellenic territory, in 1999, I immediately fell in love with the island of Kalamos, its surroundings, and the kindness of local people. It was in those crystal-clear waters where I had my first dolphin sighting. Since then, I have been working intermittently with the Tethys Research Institute in Greece.
When Tethys offered me the opportunity of taking care of a new project in the Amvrakikos Gulf and settling in the beautiful village of Vonitsa, it just felt right. Obviously, it wasn't easy to leave behind family, friends and my hometown (the gorgeous Barcelona), but it was part of the challenge; after more than two years of living in Greece the decision has proven to be right. Since March 2006 I have been in charge of year-round research in the Amvrakikos Gulf, and together with Dr. Giovanni Bearzi, I lead the
Dolphins of Greece project supported by Earthwatch.
The semi-closed Amvrakikos Gulf has one of the highest densities of bottlenose dolphins in the Mediterranean, which, combined with predominantly calm weather due to its geographic characteristics, makes this place a paradise on earth for someone willing to dedicate their life to the study and conservation of these amazing marine mammals. However, the gulf is becoming increasingly eutrophic* and polluted as a result of human pressure and low water exchange with the open sea. Top priority should be given to curtailing eutrophication and pollution and restoring water exchange.
My life in Vonitsa varies a lot, depending on whether we have volunteers participating in our field research or not. As dolphin research must be conducted year-round with consistent methods, my main task while Earthwatch volunteers are at the field base is to ensure that fieldwork and data collection are properly conducted. I must also do my best to convey a conservation message to volunteers and involve them in everything we do. To accomplish this task, the help of one or two research assistants is crucial. They can devote time to looking after the volunteers' needs and follow their data processing work back at the field base, after four to five hours of intense work at sea.
While the volunteers are here, I particularly enjoy the different subjects and debates that arise during dinner. Frequently, the conversation revolves around the day's events; that dolphin bow-riding our boat and staring at us as it gracefully glides below the boat; the frenzy of an opportunistic flock of seabirds diving for sardines as they take advantage of a group of dolphins feeding at the surface; a couple of male loggerhead sea turtles wrestling a few metres away from us. Living alongside people with different backgrounds, sharing their thoughts, emotions and worries about the future of our planet is an interesting experience.
When I am working alone or with research assistants (usually a student eager to get some hands-on experience) we still continue to conduct surveys and collect data, but I can also devote more time to other aspects of the project. This includes looking at the problems faced by local fishermen as a result of interactions with dolphins or ecosystem degradation, organising educational and public awareness activities, and collaborating with schools and local authorities.
In the winter, one of the things I enjoy the most is taking early morning walks by the sea in the good company of my dog Poseidon (Posi), looking at the mountains on the opposite side of the Gulf with their snow-covered tops, and the flocks of seabirds flying around the local fishermen's small wooden boats.
That feeling is only surpassed at sea, during a sighting, in the company of dolphins, and those of you who have had the chance to share that magical experience with us will know that it is then when the real essence of the unique Amvrakikos Gulf can be enjoyed.
Joan Gonzalvo Villegas, July 2008
* Eutrophic is used to describe a water body when the water has a high nutrient content. It often leads to excessive algal growth which can cause marine life to die off due to lack of oxygen. A eutrophic state can be natural, but this is rare, and it usually occurs due to an unnatural influx of nutrients from the land (chemicals, fertilisers, etc).