Some individuals of this freshwater species were known to be living in coastal zones of the Empordà region, but no images had yet been recorded of them coming out of the sea
The images were taken as part of a monitoring project on the Alt Empordà coastline, carried out by the Catalan Ministry for Climate Action and the Barcelona Zoo Foundation with the support of Damm
New breakthrough for the Project to characterise otters with coastal habits in the Alt Empordà, which is being conducted by the Ministry for Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda and the Barcelona Zoo Foundation, with the support of Damm. The first ever images have been recorded of an otter coming out of the sea, a first in the whole of the Mediterranean Sea.
The image of the otter was taken at a beach in the Cap de Creus area. Since 2016, and partly thanks to this pioneering project studying otter populations living in coastal parts of the Alt Empordà region, some ten individuals of this freshwater species are known to have been living in coastal parts of the Empordà region, but until now there were no records of them entering or leaving the sea.
The individual caught on camera is an adult male who is a member of these first family groups of otters spending most of their time at sea.
In order to gain more knowledge about these groups of otters living at sea, more methods will be used in 2023 to monitor the species. These include tracking techniques on foot and by boat to trace their movements, and photo trapping at strategic points to determine the number of family groups, their habits and their diet.
Current situation of the otter in Catalonia
Recent years have seen the otter (Lutra lutra) clearly regain its numbers in many river basins in Catalonia from which it had disappeared in the second half of the 20th century. The progressive reduction of non-organic river pollution and direct persecution (two factors which had reached levels incompatible with the species), coupled with the otter’s great capacity for dispersal, have led to the swift return of the species in Catalonia. What's more, 2002 saw the approval of The Otter conservation plan for Catalonia which provided for the application of protection measures and action to foster the growth of the population in rivers and other freshwater ecosystems.
The Ministry for Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, together with the Barcelona Zoo Foundation, are currently actively involved in monitoring the species with land and sea transects, as well as photo trapping techniques.
