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78 | SHARING SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS

CETACEANS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
Better understanding

equals better protection

Following its first monitoring survey in 2018, ACCOBAMS organised
an event to report on the current state of knowledge on cetacean

distribution in the wider Mediterranean region.

The ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative (ASI), launched in The main goal of the event held at the Oceanographic
2018, provided the first ever data on the conservation Museum on 20 March 2024 was to highlight the need
status of cetacean populations in the Mediterranean to pursue survey and monitoring activities across the
Sea and Black Sea. “These aerial and vessel-based region, building on the expertise and human network
surveys mobilised a great deal of observers and developed through the ASI. “Understanding the
resources, providing essential data on the distribution cumulative impact of human activities on ecosystems
and abundance of cetaceans”, noted Ayaka Amaha and their biodiversity remains a challenge, because
Öztürk, Vice-Chair of the ACCOBAMS Scientific our knowledge of the reference conditions, the
Committee. Maps were created using the data and baselines, is currently insufficient”, noted Aurélie
made freely available on NETCCOBAMS, the data- Moulins from CIMA Research Foundation, a partner
sharing platform set up by ACCOBAMS. institution. The work carried out by the ACCOBAMS
teams nonetheless provides up-to-date information
“The aim of that first survey was to estimate the on how cetaceans are adapting to human activities
absolute abundance, without bias, of different at sea.
species of cetaceans in order to implement spatial
conservation measures. The data gave us a reliable
baseline for comparing future changes in the
monitored parameters”, explained Simone Panigada,
Chair of the ACCOBAMS Scientific Committee. With
a new ASI survey set to begin in 2025, he mentioned
the environmental policy obligations in the wider
Mediterranean region. Improving knowledge of
cetaceans in the ACCOBAMS area (the Black Sea,
Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area)
helps states with jurisdiction over these waters fulfil
their marine conservation commitments and priorities.

“The future of cetaceans is a barometer of our commitment to tackling the climate
crisis. By protecting these ocean giants, we are also protecting our own habitat
and the fragile balance of our planet.” Aurélie Moulins, CIMA Research Foundation