Dear MARMAM community,

We are pleased to invite you to the Final Webinar of the LIFE CONCEPTU MARIS Project – “CONservation of CEtaceans and Pelagic sea TUrtles in the Mediterranean Sea: Managing Actions for their Recovery in Sustainability” (LIFE20 NAT/IT/001371), which will take place on 5 November 2025 at 10:00 CET.

The LIFE CONCEPTU MARIS project, coordinated by ISPRA, has developed a sustainable, transnational approach to marine biodiversity monitoring using ferries as long-term observation platforms. The webinar will present the main scientific and policy achievements, including innovative monitoring approaches for cetaceans and marine turtles, large-scale datasets collected through ferry-based surveys, and key outcomes supporting marine spatial planning and biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean region.

This event is specifically dedicated to stakeholders from the scientific and research community, offering a space for exchange on methodologies, data integration, and future collaborations.

Date: Wednesday, 5 November 2025
Time: 10:00 - 13:00 CET
Access link: https://meet.google.com/tew-ihpz-bvd

Your participation and feedback will be highly valued, as they will contribute to shaping the next steps of cooperative marine biodiversity monitoring in the Mediterranean.

 For further details on LIFE CONCEPTU MARIS results, you may consult the publication:
“Identification of important offshore CEPTU areas and risk areas in Western Mediterranean (WMED) and Adriatic and Ionian (ADRION) marine regions”
Available at: https://www.lifeconceptu.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Deliverable-C1_Life-CONCEPTU-MARIS_FINAL_v1.1.pdf

Kind regards,
The LIFE CONCEPTU MARIS Team
https://www.lifeconceptu.eu/en/

ABSTRACT- LIFE CONCEPTU MARIS: Conservation of Cetaceans and Pelagic Sea Turtles in the Mediterranean

The LIFE CONCEPTU MARIS (CONservation of CEtaceans and Pelagic sea TUrtles in Med: Managing Actions for their Recovery In Sustainability) project addresses the urgent need to improve the conservation status of highly mobile Cetaceans and Pelagic Sea Turtles (CEPTU species), listed in Annexes II–IV of the Habitats Directive. The conservation status of many CEPTU species remains poorly documented, particularly in offshore areas, resulting in major data gaps in Habitats Directive reporting. The project aims to identify key offshore CEPTU areas and risk zones in the Western Mediterranean and Adriatic marine regions, while developing a harmonized approach for systematic surveillance.

A multidisciplinary methodology integrates visual monitoring, environmental DNA (eDNA), stable isotope analysis (SIA), and spatial modeling. Passenger ferries serve as cost-effective, fixed-route platforms for continuous offshore data collection. Visual surveys record CEPTU presence and anthropogenic pressures such as maritime traffic (MT) and floating marine macro litter (FMML). eDNA analysis detects cryptic or nocturnal species and provides insights into species diversity and trophic interactions. SIA of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N ratios in particulate organic matter identifies trophic structures and productivity hotspots, while Species Distribution Models (SDMs) predict Ecological Potential Ranges and key habitats.

Findings highlight the Alboran–Gibraltar region, Pelagos Sanctuary, and Spanish Cetacean Migration Corridor as priority conservation areas. Different species-specific trends are highlighted. As for example, fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) presence is generally stable, with increases in the Pelagos Sanctuary but declines in Spanish waters. FMML exposure risk is highest for cetaceans in the Ligurian–Provençal Basin during spring and summer, while Caretta caretta exhibits the most persistent exposure in the Adriatic and Central Tyrrhenian Seas. Maritime Traffic (MT) poses the greatest year-round risk in the Alboran Sea and Strait of Gibraltar, where intense shipping corridors overlap with CEPTU distribution. Additionally, 101 Near Miss Events (NMEs), used as proxies for ship strike risk, were recorded since 2008, primarily involving large and medium-sized cetaceans. These NMEs confirm persistent danger in the north-western Mediterranean and reveal new risk zones in the Gibraltar, Alboran, Balearic, and Sicily Channels, showing a significant correlation with species Encounter Rate (ER) and vessel speed, particularly for Balaenoptera physalus.

The results of LIFE CONCEPTU MARIS are synthesized within a Decision Support Framework (DSF) and implemented through a Decision Support System (DSS) tool that supports effective conservation planning and policy uptake. This framework directly assists EU Member States in fulfilling Habitats Directive Article 11 (long-term surveillance) and Article 17 (reporting) obligations. By integrating data collection, risk assessment, and spatial modeling, the project provides a robust, adaptive, and cross-border approach to protecting CEPTU species and mitigating dynamic threats across the Mediterranean Sea.