WHALE OF A TIME: The Costa del Sol is a haven for sea life

IN the last three years scientists at OceanSea have registered up to 651 sightings of whales and dolphins on the Costa del Sol, particularly in Fuengirola and Benalmadena.
Other cetaceans which need special protection have also been seen, including loggerhead turtles and porpoises.
The Alboran Sea is an important area for marine mammals and has been earmarked for protection by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Since 2015, OceanSea has carried out numerous studies into the quantity and location of cetaceans off the south coast, in collaboration with the tourist cruise company Costasol Cruceros.
The most common species found by far was the bottlenose dolphin followed by the common dolphin, fin whale, loggerhead turtle, striped dolphin and the porpoise.