The research vessel Song of the Whale recently made a stop in the Principality of Monaco, providing a unique opportunity to highlight international cooperation for the conservation of Mediterranean cetaceans.

On this occasion, the ACCOBAMS Secretariat, in collaboration with the Yacht Club de Monaco, organized a conference dedicated to the ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative II (ASI-II).

Participants had the opportunity to discover the objectives and progress of the initiative through valuable first-hand accounts:

✈️ An aerial survey team leader, Alessio Maglio, shared insights into the challenges and achievements of monitoring cetaceans from the sky.

🌊 A crew member from the Song of the Whale, Oliver Boisseau, presented the experience of conducting vessel-based surveys at sea.

The conference also featured the Scientific Coordinator of ASI-II, Simone Panigada, who highlighted the crucial role of these large-scale coordinated surveys in improving scientific knowledge on cetacean populations and providing the robust data needed to guide effective conservation and management measures across the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

The Song of the Whale recently made a stop in the Principality of Monaco, marking an important milestone in the ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative II (ASI-II).

During this stopover, the ACCOBAMS Secretariat, in collaboration with the Yacht Club of Monaco, hosted a conference dedicated to the ASI-II campaign, highlighting the importance of large-scale scientific cooperation to improve our knowledge of cetacean populations across the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

The research vessel has now set sail for Calvi, Corsica, with the ACCOBAMS Executive Secretary and the ASI-II Scientific Coordinator on board, where the next phase of this ambitious survey will continue.

Every nautical mile covered brings us one step closer to strengthening the scientific knowledge needed to better protect cetaceans and their habitats.