Dolphins have a strong emotional impact on the general public, which perceives these marine mammals as a symbol of the good health of the marine environment. Research programmes emphasizing the presence of these popular mammals and attracting the public attention to their problems can become a powerful driving force for a number of conservation and awareness initiatives, to the benefit of the entire marine environment.

Public awareness activities carried out by the ADP include: publication of popular articles; publication of a newsletter; presentations to conferences and workshops; organization of exhibitions and popular meetings; participation in TV and radio programmes, and collaboration to the production of television documentaries.

The ADP's public awareness activities are also carried out on the island of Losinj, to increase awareness among local people and tourists about the existence of the local dolphin community and of the problems concerning the surrounding marine environment. Periodically, popular meetings are organized in which the local community is exposed to the scientific findings and to the peculiarities of the individual dolphins which live in the area.

Cetaceans . . . Education