In 2023, the renowned ship of the Italian Navy embarked on a journey around the world, offering a unique opportunity for scientific research. Thanks to a collaboration between the University of Genoa’s Marine Center and CIMA Research Foundation, a protocol for the systematic monitoring of cetaceans was developed. During the voyage, we tested it and trained the crew on its implementation, contributing to the collection of essential data for the conservation of marine species. .
In 2023, what is known as “the most beautiful ship in the world” began its journey around the globe. Global-scale itineraries are not common for the Amerigo Vespucci, the famous Italian Navy vessel. For our marine biology research activities, this was a valuable opportunity to improve cetacean monitoring protocols.
At the beginning of October, Paola Tepsich, head of the Marine Ecosystems department, presented the work carried out on the Vespucci at the Italian embassy in Darwin, Australia. Today, she shares it with us.
Monitoring cetaceans on a global voyage
“TheAmerigo Vespucci is primarily used for training campaigns for cadets of the Livorno Naval Academy, but it is worth emphasizing that marine environmental protection is part of the institutional duties of the Italian Navy,” explains Tepsich. “For this reason, as part of the campaign, the Italian Navy, the Navy Hydrographic Institute, and the University of Genoa’s Marine Center initiated a collaborative project to bring researchers on board. They were also asked to conduct specific activities dedicated to cetacean observation and studies — this is where CIMA Research Foundation came into play.”
For years, our Marine Ecosystems department has focused its activities on cetacean research, from those inhabiting the Pelagos Sanctuary, which includes the waters off Savona, to species found in much more distant seas. The global voyage of the Amerigo Vespucci represented a valuable opportunity to establish and update sighting protocols applicable in different regions of the world.
“Systematic cetacean observation allows us to identify critical areas, such as feeding, breeding, or migration zones, and thus potentially reduce the impacts of human activities like shipping, offshore industry, and fishing,” explains the researcher. “To ensure that data is consistent and comparable — providing valid monitoring of population trends, migration patterns, and animal behavior — defined and shared protocols are necessary. These must be optimized based on the region of the world where they are applied.”
This was the goal of the work aboard the Vespucci. Even before boarding, Paola Tepsich and her colleagues worked to refine the protocol that cadets must follow for data collection. “Many aspects need to be considered: the type of vessel, how to integrate monitoring into the shifts of different activities, identifying the best observation spots, and also providing training to facilitate the identification of different species depending on the geographical region,” she explains. Additionally, in collaboration with the Navy Hydrographic Institute, cetacean identification sheets were updated, and manuals were prepared, providing information on the most common species in each geographical area, how to recognize them, and what data to collect.
On the high seas
During the leg from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires, a three-week crossing in 2023, Tepsich tested the developed protocols and conducted training activities for the Vespucci crew. “It was a moving experience, and also an unusual one for me. At CIMA Research Foundation, we are used to working aboard research vessels, but the Amerigo Vespucci is a military ship, even though it is classified as an ‘arma bianca’ (unarmed vessel). It follows daily routines that include, for example, deck assemblies and the flag-lowering ceremony. But none of this diminished the crew’s interest in cetacean monitoring activities — it’s not just a matter of institutional duty; there is a genuine human interest.”
Nor was the experience limited to the time spent at sea. A few months later, Tepsich was involved in training the cadets who embarked this year for the ship’s first-ever crossing of the Pacific Ocean.
Tepsich recalls the time spent aboard the Amerigo Vespucci as a unique opportunity: “Our goal, similar to the work we regularly conduct with ferries here in Liguria, is to train the crew so they can provide scientific research with crucial data for studying cetaceans — keeping in mind that many species in various parts of the world are at risk of extinction and thus require the utmost attention. In this regard, the opportunity for collaboration during the Amerigo Vespucci’s voyage is particularly significant, as it traverses areas of the globe that are not usually covered by scientific expeditions, which tend to be concentrated near the coast.”
