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INNOVATIONS | 57

IN
FIGURES

MPAs with a national statute ■ theoretical number of collisions with large cetaceans in the
Mediterranean: 700 in winter and 2000 in summer
Marine Natura 2000 sites
(statistical approach of Gallou and Folegot, Technical Report,
Quiet Oceans, 2020),
Pelagos Sanctuary
■ 1 in 5 cetacean strandings caused by collisions
SPAMIs* (Peltier et al., Mar. Sci. 2019),
(*Specially Protected Areas
of Mediterranean Importance)
■ above 15 knots, the outcome of a collision is fatal
(Di-Meglio et al., Final report - Pelagos France, 2010),

■ the noise risk extends over 12.6% of the endangered sperm
whale's habitat in the Mediterranean (NETCCOBAMS).

Source: www.mapamed.org
2019 edition, version 2. © 2022 by SPA/RAC and MedPAN

These two species are listed as endangered by the NETCCOBAMS : A BOAT SPEED
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). MONITORING SYSTEM
"It's a long process, starting in 2019, and one that
requires the collaboration of several countries," says The NETCCOBAMS digital platform comes at the right
Armelle Roudaut-Lafon, Director of Maritime Affairs time, providing stakeholders and decision-makers with
for the Principality of Monaco, pointing to the contri- a range of management tools for monitoring cetaceans
bution of science. Cristina Farchi, from the Italian Mi- in Mediterranean and Black Sea waters. Surveilling
nistry for the Environment and Safety, agreed: "Since ships in the Mediterranean basin in real time, tracking
2020, several regions of the basin have been moni- their speed and the number of boats on the water,
tored by experts who are trying to identify the long- identifying the seasonal movements of cetacean po-
term distribution areas, seasonal populations and pulations, and mapping the overlap. Assessing noise
specific hotspots of marine mammals in the area". risks, identifying noise pollution hotspots, visualising
oceanographic features or the distribution of human
During the Monaco Ocean Week meeting, the Spa- activities in Mediterranean waters. By centralising all
nish and Monegasque management tools supporting this data using artificial intelligence, all this becomes
future measures in the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area possible and accessible to everyone. Alessio Maglio,
were also discussed in detail. "The stakeholders in an expert in the marine environment, gave a live de-
the region share the same objectives, particularly in monstration enabling the visualization of the position
terms of coordinating and improving scientific mo- and speed of ships at any time in a specific area.
nitoring," Vincent Szleper, from the French Ministry
for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, ex- What are the future needs associated with the practical
plained, referring to the prospects of an environmen- management measures in the PSSA? Speakers from
tal charter, "sustainable cruising in the Mediterranean" MedPAN, Cerema, EcoOcean Institute and Ocean
for example, a regional certification that would include Care highlighted the importance of regulation, scientific
the fight against collisions. How can we provide more monitoring and raising awareness. "NETCCOBAMS is
support for the suggested recommendations, i.e., vital for both monitoring and forward-looking mapping
speed reduction, increased surveillance, and warning which takes several factors into account. We need to
of cetaceans? rely on science to protect cetaceans in the Mediter-
ranean", concluded Nicolas Entrup and Carlos Bravo,
from OceanCare, drawing attention to the importance
“We need to speed up to slow down”. of reducing noise and CO emissions.
Nicolas Entrup, Ocean Care's Director 2
of International Relations