Dear list members, The Tethys Research Institute is presently collecting data on cetaceans ship strike events from the Mediterranean Basin. We are mainly focusing on large animals, fin and sperm whales, but data on small cetaceans will also be registered. This action is part of a project commissioned by the Italian Ministry of the Environment to the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans in the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area (ACCOBAMS). The main aims of the project are to: Synthesize the knowledge regarding ship strikes with large cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea and place them in a global context. Suggest conservation and mitigation measures. We would like to collate information from strandings, reports by ships' captains and crews, and observation of whales carcasses floating at sea. We are also interested in information on live whales presenting evidence of a ship strike, such as propeller scars or open wounds. We are in close contact with the Ship Strike Working Group established within the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, and we are aware of the global effort to gather similar information; the data received will be entered into the IWC database. We have recently prepared a dedicated web page ("www.collisioni.org") with information on ship strikes and cetaceans from the Mediterranean, together with public awareness material, available on request also by mail. Any data you wish to contribute can be reported online at "http://www.tethys.org/collisioni/segnala_en.htm". Pictures or videos can be sent by email to "collisionicetacei@gmail.com". Any picture provided would be very welcomed and would be posted on the web page with the author's permission. Given the difficulties in achieving our aims, your contribution is extremely important and we would like to thank you all in advance for sharing your data with us. Every contribution will be fully acknowledged, and in case of publication all contributors will be contacted beforehand for formal consent and to discuss co-authorship. Best regards, Simone Panigada ___________________________ Simone Panigada, Ph.D. Vice-President panigada@inwind.it Tethys Research Institute Viale G.B. Gadio 2, 20121 Milano, Italy tel. +39 0272001947 / 0272013943 fax +39 0286995011 tethys@tethys.org <http://www.tethys.org/>