Call for expression of interest for aircraft services to conduct aerial surveys for cetaceans, large vertebrates and birds in the Mediterranean Sea – Summer 2026
Complete details of the call can be found here.
Implemented between 2018 and 2023, the first edition of ASI (ASI-I) constituted the first large-scale, coordinated survey covering the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Through a combination of aerial, vessel-based and passive acoustic monitoring, it produced essential data and delivered robust estimates of cetacean abundance and distribution, as well as on other marine megafauna and the human pressures affecting these ecosystems.
Following the positive impact of ASI-I, ASI-II was launched in June 2025 and will run until 2028, under the coordination of the ACCOBAMS Secretariat. Building on the achievements and lessons learned from the first phase, ASI-II aims to generate new scientifically robust data on cetaceans and associated species (e.g. sea turtles, seabirds, pelagic fish), while also assessing major anthropogenic pressures such as marine litter through its next regionals synoptic survey planned during the summer 2026.
An essential component of the 2026 campaign is the implementation of aerial surveys for cetaceans monitoring along predefined transects, following harmonized protocols to ensure comparability across subregions and enable joint data analysis.
In this context, the ACCOBAMS Secretariat is seeking companies able to provide suitable aircraft services for the 2026 Mediterranean survey campaign.
Maÿlis SALIVAS brings over 15 years of expertise in marine biodiversity conservation to her role as the new Executive Secretary of ACCOBAMS. Holding a PhD in Population Biology with a specialization in Marine Ecology, she has developed a strong background in environmental monitoring and coastal ecosystem assessment. She has been working in the ACCOBAMS Secretariat since 2010 as Project & Programme Officer and has played a key role in coordinating important conservation initiatives and collaborating with national governments, international organizations, and other key stakeholders. Maylis SALIVAS is dedicated to enhancing regional cooperation, advancing scientific research, and ensuring the sustainable conservation of cetaceans across the Black Sea, Mediterranean, and Atlantic regions. With her strategic leadership and deep commitment, she looks forward to guide ACCOBAMS into its next phase of impactful collaboration and conservation.