Can a simple pool towel change protect the Mediterranean?
With "Cambio que Navega", your small choice saves water and energy while turning 100% of the swap fee into Tursiops’ marine research—right where Menorca’s north may be a nursery for sperm whales. Discover how your gesture can make a real difference.
Dolphins in Menorca: Sagitario Hotels and the Tursiops Association, united for the Balearic Sea
Can an everyday gesture such as reusing a pool towel help protect the Mediterranean?
With Cambio que Navega, the initiative launched by Sagitario Hotels in 2025 together with the Tursiops Association, every decision makes a difference.
By reusing their pool towels, our guests help reduce the number of washes and the resulting consumption of water and energy. When they need a fresh towel, the fee associated with the change is donated in full to the Tursiops Association’s marine research projects.
Since the initiative began, the participation of our guests has made a real contribution to understanding and conserving the Balearic Sea.
Cambio que Navega: sustainable tourism in Menorca
Cambio que Navega is an environmental awareness initiative integrated into the guest experience at our hotels. Its aim is to encourage the responsible use of resources while supporting scientific research into the cetaceans of the Balearic Sea.
The initiative brings together two ways of caring for the sea: reusing towels whenever possible and directly supporting science when a change is requested.
How the initiative works for guests
- Reuse: by reusing pool towels, we reduce the number of washes and the water and energy consumed by laundry services. It is a simple way to care for Menorca’s resources without compromising comfort during your stay.
- Support: whenever guests need a fresh towel, they can request a change. The associated fee is donated in full to the Tursiops Association’s scientific projects.
- Always a voluntary choice: fresh towels remain available whenever guests need them, while Sagitario Hotels’ standards of hygiene, quality and comfort are maintained.
Why protect dolphins and sperm whales in the Balearic Sea?
The Balearic Sea is an important habitat for different cetacean species, including the bottlenose dolphin —Tursiops truncatus— and the Mediterranean sperm whale —Physeter macrocephalus—.
In recent years, scientific research has provided a better understanding of the presence of sperm whale social groups and calves in the waters north of Menorca.
The results obtained in 2026 further highlight the importance of this area as an essential and stable breeding ground for sperm whales in the western Mediterranean.
Protecting these habitats requires an understanding of the animals’ presence patterns, movements and behaviour, as well as the threats they face, including underwater noise and collisions with vessels.
This knowledge makes it possible to develop conservation and management measures based on scientific evidence.
Tursiops Association: science applied to conservation
The Tursiops Association is an organisation dedicated to studying and conserving cetaceans in the Balearic Sea.
For more than two decades, it has conducted navigation campaigns, acoustic monitoring, photo-identification and scientific analysis to improve understanding of dolphin and sperm whale populations around the Balearic Islands.
Its work combines field research, data analysis, innovation and the development of technical proposals designed to improve the protection of species and their habitats.
Its projects include Moby Mummy, an initiative focused on defining and studying the sperm whale breeding area north of Menorca and generating the knowledge required for its future protection and management.
Moby Mummy 2026: new findings on sperm whales north of Menorca
Between 17 and 30 July 2026, the Tursiops Association team carried out a new scientific campaign as part of the Moby Mummy project.
During two weeks at sea, the researchers covered approximately 1,100 nautical miles and recorded 48 sperm whales in the waters north of Menorca.
The campaign documented eleven encounters with the species through acoustic detections and visual sightings. The observed animals included three solitary males and six social groups.
More than 20% of the sperm whales recorded within these groups were calves, a finding that reinforces the importance of the area for the species’ reproduction and conservation.
Key campaign data
- More than 1,100 nautical miles covered.
- 48 sperm whales recorded.
- 11 encounters with sperm whales.
- More than 20% calves among the animals observed in groups.
How the research is conducted
During the expedition, the team carried out search and location work, photo-identification using images of tails and fins, acoustic recordings with hydrophones and aerial filming.
These techniques make it possible to study the animals’ identity, acoustic behaviour, nutritional condition, possible pregnancies and morphometric characteristics.
Samples were also collected for environmental DNA analysis, expanding the scientific knowledge available about this marine area.
Knowledge to support greater protection
The new findings support efforts to define the pressures and threats affecting sperm whales and to design effective future management measures.
For Sagitario Hotels, these advances help us better understand the purpose of Cambio que Navega and the importance of transforming small everyday gestures into continued support for science.
From an everyday gesture to marine research
This video explains how Cambio que Navega works and why an everyday decision can create two positive benefits.
Reusing towels helps reduce resource consumption. When a fresh towel is needed, the contribution is donated in full to the Tursiops Association’s scientific projects.
A partnership that connects our guests’ experience with the understanding and conservation of the sea we all share.
Impact, indicators and communication
Since Cambio que Navega was launched, the participation of our guests has made a real contribution to marine research.
The project is communicated through awareness materials displayed in our hotels, digital content and information about the work carried out by the Tursiops Association.
The initiative aims to ensure that every guest understands the two ways to participate: reusing towels to reduce resource consumption or requesting a change and contributing directly to scientific research.
We will continue to share updates about the partnership and the results of the campaigns that help us understand and protect the cetaceans of the Balearic Sea.
Frequently asked questions about dolphins in Menorca
Can you see dolphins in Menorca?
The bottlenose dolphin is one of the species found in the waters around the Balearic Islands, although sightings in the wild can never be guaranteed.
If an encounter occurs, it is essential to keep a safe distance, avoid chasing or feeding the animals and comply with the applicable regulations. Cetacean conservation and welfare must take priority over any wildlife-watching activity.
Are there sperm whales in the Mediterranean and around Menorca?
Yes. The Mediterranean sperm whale population is present in the waters around the Balearic Islands.
Campaigns carried out by the Tursiops Association have documented social groups and calves north of Menorca. The results obtained in 2026 further support the recognition of this area as an essential and stable breeding ground for sperm whales in the western Mediterranean.
What is the Moby Mummy project?
Moby Mummy is a Tursiops Association project that aims to define, study and design protection measures for the sperm whale breeding area north of Menorca.
The project combines scientific navigation, acoustic recordings, photo-identification, aerial imagery and other research techniques.
What does the Tursiops Association do?
The Tursiops Association researches and works to conserve the cetaceans of the Balearic Sea.
Its campaigns include navigation, photo-identification, acoustic recordings, threat analysis and the development of technical recommendations to protect the animals and their habitats.
How does Cambio que Navega contribute to conservation?
Cambio que Navega offers two ways to participate.
By reusing pool towels, guests help reduce the number of washes and the consumption of water and energy.
When they need a fresh towel, the associated fee is donated in full to the Tursiops Association’s marine research projects.
Since it began, the initiative has already made a real contribution to research and conservation in the Balearic Sea.
Does the initiative affect guest hygiene or comfort?
No. Fresh towels remain available whenever guests need them, and Sagitario Hotels’ standards of hygiene, quality and comfort are maintained.
The aim is to encourage responsible reuse and turn requested towel changes into support for science.
Every gesture can make a difference
Cambio que Navega shows that a simple decision can create two positive effects.
Reusing towels helps reduce water and energy consumption. Requesting a fresh towel when needed provides direct support for the Tursiops Association’s scientific projects.
Two ways to participate in one shared commitment: understanding and caring for the sea we all share.
Join Cambio que Navega during your stay at Sagitario Hotels.
Together, we care for Menorca.
