Second Edition of the ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative – A Step Further Towards Advancing Cetacean Conservation and Regional Biodiversity Assessment for the Mediterranean and Black Seas, Supporting Conservation and the Blue Economy

The Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Contiguous Atlantic Area covers critical habitats for a wide range of cetaceans and other marine megafauna, including sea turtles, seabirds, and fish species critical to the region’s biodiversity. Many of these species are considered threatened under the IUCN Red List due to mounting pressures from human activities, including overfishing, pollution, underwater noise, and habitat degradation. In response, the ACCOBAMS Agreement works to enhance conservation measures, improve scientific understanding, and foster international collaboration to protect cetaceans thereof impacting the broader marine ecosystem.

Building on the success and significant impact of the first ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative (ASI) (2018-2023), ACCOBAMS Parties adopted a Long-Term Monitoring Programme in 2023, committing to a basin-wide approach for tracking cetaceans and assessing marine biodiversity and ecosystem health. The first ASI established an invaluable baseline of knowledge, assessing cetaceans species distribution and abundance, identifying key habitats, and assessing conservation status, while also documenting marine litter and other human-induced pressures. These findings have directly informed the development of effective management measures and conservation policies.
ASI II will continue this essential work, generating new, scientifically robust data on cetaceans, other marine species, and human pressures. During the summers of 2026 and 2027, large-scale international surveys will use aerial and vessel-based observations, along with passive acoustic monitoring, to assess cetacean populations, track environmental changes, and evaluate conservation measures.

The key Objectives of ASI II include:
• Monitoring Cetaceans & Other Marine Species: Tracking the distribution, abundance, and trends of cetaceans, sea turtles, seabirds, elasmobranchs and pelagic fish
• Assessing Human Pressures: Providing data on pollution, underwater noise, fisheries interactions, ship strikes, and other anthropogenic threats.
• Early Detection of Environmental Changes: Identifying population declines, shifts in species distribution, and emerging threats, including climate change impacts.
• Capacity Building: Strengthening the expertise of local and national actors, authorities, and stakeholders to implement data-driven conservation strategies.
• Supporting Regional Cooperation: Enhancing international collaboration to align conservation efforts, policy frameworks, and marine spatial planning.
• Informing Adaptive Management Strategies: Delivering reliable data and information to refine conservation measures in response to changing environmental conditions. conditions and human activities.

ASI II aligns with major international conservation commitments, including the Convention on Migratory Species, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and the Barcelona Convention (UNEP/MAP). The initiative will also provide essential data for marine spatial planning, contributing to sustainable resource management and a resilient Blue Economy.

As the urgency to conserve and sustainably manage marine ecosystems grows, ASI II emerges as a pivotal initiative for the Mediterranean and Black Seas. By taking a multi-species, multi-threat approach, ASI II will not only advance cetacean conservation but also provide vital knowledge for protecting other threatened marine species and ecosystems. Through continued collaboration, ASI II will support evidence-based management, mitigate human-induced threats, and foster a healthier, more resilient marine environment for future generations.