Conference: ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative II & Cetacean Conservation

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.