Brazilian marine mammalogist Pedro Fruet has studied Lahille’s bottlenose dolphins, a rare endemic sub-species of the bottlenose dolphin found in Argentina and the southern Brazil-Uruguay region, since 2000. He was awarded the prestigious Whitley Award in 2021 for this work and now hopes to reduce bycatch and raise awareness of the social species.

Oceanographic Magazine (OM): What was it like holidaying by the ocean as a child?

Pedro Fruet (PF): I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to spend long periods on the beach during my childhood, especially at Cassino beach in southern Brazil. The ocean is so special to me. Everyone should have the opportunity to see and feel the energy of the sea and connect with wildlife. I don’t remember having a specific moment that made me realise that the ocean needed protection. It was a process that grew as I began to understand our dependence on the oceans and the sensitivity of ecological processes.

OM: When was the first time you had an encounter with the Lahille’s bottlenose dolphins?

PF: I had my first encounter with Lahille’s bottlenose dolphins during a surf session when I was 12 years old. After my incessant requests, my parents took me surfing in the late afternoon. They waited in the car while I ran out to sea. I was alone in the ocean when a small group of dolphins came by. The group of dolphins stayed quite a long time with me and came very close. For a split second I was scared, but then I enjoyed every second of that encounter as I realised that those animals were curious and looked for a way to interact with me. A few seconds felt like hours. Time stopped. The event connected me with these animals. It made me reflect on the way in which humanity understands and interacts with wildlife, and it pointed out the need for us to change our attitudes.