Mediterranean's First Dolphin Sanctuary to Open Off Italy in 2026

The Mediterranean region is preparing to welcome its first sanctuary dedicated to dolphins that have lived in captivity, with plans to open the facility off the coast of southern Italy in 2026. This initiative responds to the increasing need for proper dolphin re-homing as several European marine parks shut down due to animal welfare concerns.

Carmelo Fanizza, director of the San Paolo Dolphin Refuge, emphasized the importance of establishing "a new model for managing dolphins in a natural but supervised environment." Located near Taranto in Puglia, the sanctuary is awaiting final government approval but is expected to be operational by May or June 2026.

Governments in countries such as Canada and France have recently imposed bans on capturing dolphins, porpoises, and whales, intensifying the urgency to find suitable sanctuaries for captive cetaceans who cannot be safely released into the wild.

In 2023, Italy authorized the use of a seven-hectare area in the Gulf of Taranto, close to San Paolo island, for the sanctuary's development. Although the site is near Taranto, an industrial city known for its large steelworks and pollution challenges, measures have been taken to ensure a safe environment for the animals. Fanizza assured that "improvements have been made to the facilities, so that the quality of the breathable air, the water column and the sediments in the area currently pose no risk to animal health."

Situated roughly four kilometers offshore, the sanctuary features a primary enclosure covering 1,600 square meters, alongside smaller areas designed for animal transfers and quarantine. The complex includes a floating lab, staff accommodations for continuous monitoring, a food preparation zone, and an advanced surveillance system that operates both above and underwater. Real-time environmental data are transmitted to a control room in Taranto for ongoing assessment.

Funding for the sanctuary has predominantly come from the Jonian Dolphin Conservation organization, complemented by private donations and European Union public funds. Operating expenses are estimated between €350,000 and €500,000 annually.

While authorized to house up to 17 dolphins, Fanizza stressed that the sanctuary aims to accommodate only a select few, carefully chosen based on medical condition, behavior, and social compatibility. "Our goal at this stage is not to take in a large number of animals but to identify a group that… could be ideal for initiating such a project," he stated.

Muriel Arnal, head of the French animal rights group One Voice, praised the sanctuary initiative and highlighted Europe’s captive dolphin population of approximately 60 individuals. She expressed hope that the San Paolo Refuge would eventually serve as a sanctuary for French dolphins as well, noting that "once you have a model that works well, you can replicate it."