Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors I am happy to share our new open access paper on Black Sea cetaceans in Bulgarian waters. It is published in /Diversity/ *2023*, /15/(2), 229; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020229 https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/229 <https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/229?fbclid=IwAR28J_vD0cqbz15Pl7ivBuozoJxYDeGgSuUWfYpgMYfEwxHeJWa-znftgok> Abstract: Black Sea cetaceans are isolated and nominated as endemic subspecies listed in the IUCN Red List of Endangered species: the harbour porpoise and bottlenose dolphin as Endangered (EN) and the common dolphin as Vulnerable (VU). Studies of their distribution and abundance are scarce but obligatory for assessment of their conservation status. Being highly mobile apex predators entails large variations in spatial and temporal distribution. Two vessel line–transect distance sampling surveys were conducted in 2017 in the Bulgarian shelf with the aim to estimate the density, abundance and distribution during spring and autumn. Results have revealed a shift from the coastal to offshore shelf of harbour porpoises with marked southern movement. Density of porpoises varied from 1.423 ind./km^2 (CV = 25.4%) in spring to 0.576 ind./km^2 (CV = 43.43%) in autumn. The density of common dolphins was also decreasing, from 0.391 ind./km^2 (CV = 36.84%) to 0.088 ind./km^2 (CV = 42.13%), which was more significant in offshore (0.031 ind./km^2 , CV = 58.04%) than in the coastal shelf (0.138 ind./km^2 , CV = 48.59%). Bottlenose dolphins had almost constant density in both seasons in the coastal shelf: 0.211 ind./km^2 (CV = 52.15%) and 0.187 ind./km^2 (CV = 52.13%) but a very low density in the offshore shelf in autumn: 0.042 ind./km^2 (CV = 71.07%). The importance of existing NATURA 2000 sites for the harbour porpoise (BG0000621 Shabla-Ezerets, BG0000573 Kompleks Kaliaka, BG0001001 Ropotamo and BG0001007 Strandzha) and bottlenose dolphin (BG0000621 Shabla-Ezerets, BG0000573 Kompleks Kaliaka, BG0001501 Emona and BG0001001 Ropotamo) were confirmed. Citation: Popov, D.; Panayotova, M.; Bekova, R.; Dimitrov, H.; Meshkova, G. Seasonal Abundance, Density and Distribution of Cetaceans in the Bulgarian Black Sea Shelf in 2017. /Diversity/ *2023*, /15/, 229. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020229 In case you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Best regards, Dimitar -- __________________________________________________ *__________________________________________________ Dimitar Popov (Mr.) **Project Manager GREEN BALKANS NGO* LIFE19 NAT/BG/000804 LIFE FOR POMORIE LAGOON 1, Skopie str., office 10 Plovdiv 4004, Bulgaria Tel: +359 (0) 32 626 977 Fax: +359 (0) 32 635 921 Mobile +359 (0)885 108712 E-mail: _dpopov@greenbalkans.org_ http://www.greenbalkans.org __________________________________________________