I met Eva Carpinelli Chiara Rock in Tarifa, president and founder of El Cachalote Project and the Nereide non-profit association. It was a very rewarding and inspiring encounter with a person who acts on her convictions.
Eva has a degree in Natural Sciences and a Master’s degree in Fauna Conservation from the University of Pavia (Italy). She came to Tarifa from Milan in 2009 to do her Master’s thesis on the movements of sperm whales in the Strait of Gibraltar and fell in love with the place. Eva started a shop to support local artisans and after a few years she felt she wanted to combine this with her love for the inhabitants of the sea and to benefit from her education. In 2018 she started Nereide and her current project is the protection of whales in the Mediterranean Sea which involves workshops in schools on the environment and nature conservation. Nereide informs about measures against marine pollution and about the circular economy. Research in collaboration with universities is also a large part of the work they do. The team consists of 12 dedicated members.
The Strait of Gibraltar is home to a great biodiversity, including 7 species of whales; fin whale, sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, bottlenose dolphin, striped dolphin and common dolphin. Many different birds species cross the strait every year in their migration to and from Africa.
Picture from the El Cachalote local artisan shop, Tarifa
Some of Nereide research projects:
The Ferry Project
This is research where monitoring is carried out from passenger ferries. The Strait of Gibraltar is the only connection point between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. The area is characterised by narrow passages, intense anthropogenic activities (activities caused by humans) and permanent resident whales.
The aim here is to gather scientific knowledge about the distribution of these animals in the Strait of Gibraltar and to improve their protection. Common dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, fin whale and sperm whale are endangered in the Mediterranean, according to the IUCN*.
A lot of research is being carried out from land.
Aleta La Vista
Anyone who moves in the Strait can help with the research. This special project means that any ship or boat sailing in the Strait of Gibraltar can participate and take a photo of individuals seen at sea and then send the coordinates together with the images to Nereida. With this data it is possible to gather information about their movements and distribution, and in some cases about their health; if any individual is found in poor physical condition or with visible marks or scars.
Send
“Whales are at the top of the food chain in marine ecosystems and play a very important role in the balance and health of these ecosystems. Seeing them in the wild, enjoying their natural habitat is also the main purpose of many who visit Andalusia, and therefore represents a very important source of income in our community, helping to stimulate the local economy.”
-Nereide
I ask Eva what she thinks about whale watching tours and she says that there are both negative and positive aspects and it is important that it is done in a way that does not disturb the whales.
The El Cachalote project organizes whale watching. They go with large boats that can take up to 160 passengers. This is better than shuttle service with a small boat that disturbs and pollutes more. Passengers are also given information on how to behave on the boat to minimize disturbance. The positive thing is that those who get to see the animals in their own habitat become more aware of the importance of keeping the water clean, for the well-being and conservation of the whales.
Picture left: Eva Carpinelli
Here you can read up on Nereides work:
The local artisan project:
Whale watching will be included in our Tarifa program for those who want it. Before that, an information session with an introductory film about whales will be organized. Which makes the excursion much more engaging and rewarding.
Cover photo: @akris.world
Below a picture from one of Eva’s nature workshops
