Aerial survey cetacean sightings between 2009 and 2011 in the Pelagos Sanctuary, the Central Tyrrhenian, the Corsica and Sardinia Seas, the Ionian Sea and the Gulf of Taranto.

Original provider: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Tethys Research Institute Dataset credits: Tethys Research Institute Abstract: The giant devil ray -lt;i-gt;Mobula mobular-lt;/i-gt;, the only Mediterranean mobulid, is subject to mortality caused by directed and accidental captures in fisheries throughout the region. Whilst the combination of human impacts, limited range and a low reproductive potential is not inconsistent with its endangered listing, there are insufficient data to enable a quantitative assessment of trends. Without this, it is difficult to assess and prioritise threats and develop effective conservation actions.

This dataset, belonging as a whole to Tethys Research Institute, comprises the work carried out between 1986 and 2012 mainly in the Mediterranean Sea and in particular in the Corso-Ligurian-Provencal basin, in the Ionian Sea and in the Adriatic Sea. Research has also been carried out investigating cetaceans in Atlantic Ocean (Canary Islands, Morocco coasts) and in the Caribbean Sea. The dataset generated includes more than 8.400 sightings of cetaceans collected in 25 years of research activity.

Within the "Support MSFD implementation in the Black Sea through establishing a regional monitoring system of cetaceans (D1) and noise monitoring (D11) for achieving GES", financed by European Commission - No. 110661/2018/794677/SUB/ENV.C2, a dedicated aerial survey for marine mammals using distance line transect methods was performed in 2019 in territorial and EEZs of the six Black Sea riparian countries.