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Galicia Logs 2,092 Marine Animal Strandings Since 2022 as Ría de Vigo Stands Out in 2025

CEMMA says funding shortfalls are limiting laboratory analysis.

Overview

  • In 2025, Galicia recorded 353 strandings, with 36 in the Ría de Vigo municipalities—about 10% of the regional total—and 48 cases, or 13%, when nearby Baixo Miño is included, down from 57 there in 2024.
  • Across 2022–2025, strandings totaled 2,092, with nearly 90% involving cetaceans, followed by sharks at 6.3%, sea turtles at about 4%, and smaller shares of otters, sea lions and large fish.
  • Roughly 10% of animals were found alive, while about 90% were recovered dead, and post-rescue survival is estimated near 70% for turtles and sea lions and 40–50% for cetaceans depending on condition and cause.
  • The Revargal project brought a €420,000 grant from Fundación Biodiversidade under the Recovery Plan, and the Xunta’s natural heritage directorate provides about 14% of the network’s annual financing.
  • CEMMA coordinates responses with local councils, Protección Civil and municipal police, and it will present the detailed results publicly on Saturday at Nigrán’s auditorium at 9:30 a.m.