Mediterranean contents production: research and scientific dissemination on pelagic life within Pelagos Sanctuary and its links with the whole Mediterranean basin.
(
Non-governmental organization (NGO)
)
#OceanAction42532
Description
Since 2010, Menkab boat is carrying many researchers, biologist and videomakers to perform studies on the different cetaceans species of Mediterranean Sea that live and visit regularly the Ligurian Sea. Our challenge is to lead a scientific research to fill the gap knowledge that still exist about all species and perform educational activities in order to evoke people awareness on the anthropogenic threats that top predators as cetacean and all marine life are facing. Furthermore, thanks to the heterogeneity of the team (composed of biologists and oceanographers, communication advisors, photographers, videomakers from Artescienza s.a.s.) we aim to increase our video production with: documentaries focused on marine life of Ligurian Sea and educational video to explain the potential environmental risks
2. Contest and objectives
Cetaceans as top predators play a fundamental role in the balance of oceanic ecosystems. These species are also considered as strong indicator of god health of seas and oceans. Rhese species represent also some flag species in our biodiversity richness. For this reason, our role is strongly focused on protecting them and monitoring them in order to assess good status of marine ecosystems. Several cetaceans species among the Mediterranean are classified as Endangered according to ACCOBAMS and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN List of Threatened Species). These populations are threatened by a number of impacts which can cause direct mortality (i.e. ship strikes, illegal drift nets, plastic pollution) or stranding (i.e. strong acoustic impacts), habitat alteration, prey reduction and pollution (including chemical pollution and debris ingestion). However, our knowledge on species (i.e. sperm whales or fin whales) is still inadequate for proposing effective conservation strategies.
The main goals of improving people awareness on threats facing by these species and all scientific assessments to be presented and shared among scientific community and International agencies will be achieved through the following objectives.
2.1 Educational objectives:
- scientific dissemination activities for citizen as well as scientific training activities;
- creation and production of multimedia content to be shared with the community
2.2 Scientific objectives:
- Populations genomics research to identify the units of conservation for Mediterranean sperm whale and, consequently, describe the demographics,
kin associations and geographic population structure;
- building a map of sperm whale gne flow, in order to assess priority sites (essential breeding and feeding habitat), and to migration behaviour among
the Mediterranean basin and between Mediterranean and Atlantic ocean.
3. Methodology.
- Survey at sea for data collection (position, photos, acoustic) for scientific assessment and multimedia contents production (aerial and underwater)
for documentaries and scientific dissemination.
- Data analyses for scientific production. GPS data and photos will be analysed in order to perform distribution assessment and improving photo ID
catalogues.
- Population genetic on sperm whale. About 180 samples from Mediterranean and close areas in Atlantic ocean will be genotyped in order to clarify
te gene flow in the whole basin, assess the kinship between different area and confirm or decline lhypothese of isolate units that could risk
extinction.
SDGS & Targets
Goal 14
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.1.1
(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.2.1
Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas
14.3
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.3.1
14.4
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.4.1
14.5
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
14.5.1
14.6
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
14.6.1
Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
14.7
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14.7.1
Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
14.a.1
14.b
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.b.1
Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries
14.c
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
14.c.1
Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources
SDG 14 targets covered
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| 14.a | Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries |
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Contact Information
Giulia Calogero, Doctor + President