Off the coast of Malta, a resident community of dolphins has become an unlikely test case for how tourism, science and conservation can work together, or against each other. Patrizia Patti, marine biologist, Maltese by adoption and founder of EcoMarine Malta, has spent nearly a decade studying these animals and, more recently, leading an unprecedented coalition of NGOs, dive operators and marine businesses to demand stronger protection for them. Her work sheds light on the science behind the campaign, what a responsible dolphin encounter actually looks like, and why protecting Malta’s dolphins requires cooperation across the tourism and marine sectors.

Can you describe the situation prompting the recent joint statement?

The situation is that there are a lot of boats on the sea, a lot of people using it. Malta doesn’t have abundant visible wildlife, so when dolphins or turtles do appear, people rush toward them, usually out of enthusiasm, not malice. I think it’s mostly a lack of knowledge and lack of information, which pushes people into an improper way to approach these animals.

© EcoMarine Malta

There’s already a Code of Conduct for this, isn’t there?

Yes. ACCOBAMS, the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area, has published voluntary guidelines that predate my own career in the field. There’s not a law, but… as human beings, we don’t need a law to do the right thing. Malta’s Environment and Resources Authority and Transport Malta have both since run awareness campaigns echoing those same rules. This shows that the message is spreading, even if enforcement remains limited.

© EcoMarine Malta

What is EcoMarine Malta’s responsibility as a tourism operator?

We have the responsibility to share this knowledge and to become ambassadors of the sea. That means teaching people to enjoy nature without being a burden: no touching, no feeding and no chasing. On our boat tours, rather than simply telling passengers what not to do, we let them see the difference for themselves. When we apply the code and they see the dolphins behaving naturally, doing whatever they want, they don’t ask to go closer. They just participate in what is happening. Often, the dolphins reward that patience by approaching the boat on their own.

Behind the statement is real data. Tell us about the research.

Between late 2023 and 2025, EcoMarine Malta ran a passive acoustic monitoring project, leaving an underwater recorder in the water to capture dolphin vocalisations independently of boat activity. We recorded 1,200 hours of vocalisation. Combined with nine years of photo-identification data gathered during our tours, the recordings showed dolphins consistently present in one area, night and day, in good weather and bad weather. This allowed us to identify it as a scientific hotspot rather than relying simply on an impression. That evidence became the basis for one of the statement’s central requests: a mandatory speed limit for all vessels in the zone to reduce both collision risk and underwater noise. Noise interferes with dolphin communication and can trigger the same anti-predatory stress response they show around sharks, which is especially dangerous for mothers with newborn calves.

© EcoMarine Malta

Why does approach angle matter so much — coming from the side rather than head-on?

From the back, they can get scared. From the front, they feel attacked. Slowing down roughly 300 metres away and approaching from the side allows the animals to see, hear and assess the boat calmly. If they don’t perceive you as a threat, they can also choose to approach you.

The statement drew 29 endorsing organisations, but EcoMarine Malta didn’t claim the lead.

That was deliberate. It’s not about who is the leader of this action. The result is the most important thing. What united such a varied group, from ranger units to environmental NGOs, was simple: everyone cares about marine life, about the sea and about respect.

© EcoMarine Malta

Has government engagement followed?

Yes. We have had renewed meetings with Malta’s Environment and Resources Authority, while operators such as EcoMarine Malta continue to act informally as eyes on the water, reporting both good and bad behaviour.

The statement also calls for a formal public reporting system. Giving this responsibility to the general public means everyone becomes more conscious of how they behave. The idea would be to have escalating warnings before any fine, with penalties reserved for repeat or severe offenders.

The mission is not to punish, but to create more information for a better conservation plan. I’m working for the people of the sea, the dolphins, the turtles and the seabirds, not against the people on land.