{"id":12914,"date":"2025-02-19T10:05:25","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T09:05:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/?p=12914"},"modified":"2025-02-19T10:05:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T09:05:25","slug":"protecting-the-mediterranean-research-between-marine-biodiversity-and-sustainable-navigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/news\/protecting-the-mediterranean-research-between-marine-biodiversity-and-sustainable-navigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting the Mediterranean: research between marine biodiversity and sustainable navigation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Research, innovation, and awareness are at the core of initiatives aimed at protecting the Mediterranean\u2019s marine ecosystems. From European projects to crew training, CIMA Research Foundation is charting new courses toward safe and sustainable navigation. <\/em><\/p>\n\n

The protection of marine biodiversity and navigation safety are crucial topics, now more than ever at the center of international attention. In this context, the establishment of a PSSA (Particularly Sensitive Sea Area) in the northwestern Mediterranean marks a significant step in safeguarding marine ecosystems and promoting sustainable navigation. As Paola Tepsich, head of the Marine Ecosystems department at CIMA Research Foundation, explains, “Our Foundation has been committed to these issues for years, thanks to various projects funded by European programs and the capitalization of products developed over the years through cross-border collaboration and monitoring campaigns conducted with our research vessel, both in the Pelagos Sanctuary and other areas of the Mediterranean.” <\/p>\n\n

CIMA Research Foundation is involved in mapping and monitoring activities within the LIFE Conceptu Maris project, using both traditional methods and innovative technologies such as environmental DNA (eDNA). This technique enables the tracking of marine animals’ presence through genetic traces left in the water. Additionally, ferries serve as research platforms, supporting the study of cetacean and turtle distribution through observers on the bridge and mapping oceanographic characteristics. These activities provide concrete tools to identify ecological corridors and buffer zones essential for conservation, strengthening international cooperation in line with the Marine Strategy. <\/p>\n\n

“Another project involving CIMA Research Foundation,” continues Paola Tepsich, “is SEAsteMAR<\/a>, which focuses on navigation safety and the protection of large cetaceans.” The Foundation contributes to updating maps of areas where cetaceans are at the highest risk of collision and will conduct specific studies on the goose-beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris). Additionally, starting this year, our campaigns will also include the collection of certain oceanographic parameters\u2014crucial data for addressing the impact of climate change on the ecosystems of the Pelagos Sanctuary, a key area for marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean. <\/p>\n\n

Alongside scientific research, CIMA Research Foundation is committed to outreach and training, both for stakeholders working at sea and for the general public. It is essential not only to collect scientific data but also to raise awareness of the importance of marine ecosystems and the solutions that can be adopted to mitigate the effects of climate change and human activities. “We have developed e-learning courses and informational materials on online platforms for crew members of passenger transport companies operating in the Mediterranean,” concludes Tepsich, “to educate them about the risk of collisions with cetaceans and turtles. Additionally, identification guides and best practices for marine behavior have been made available\u2014essential tools to increase awareness of biodiversity and the importance of its protection.” <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Research, innovation, and awareness are at the core of initiatives aimed at protecting the Mediterranean\u2019s marine ecosystems. From European projects to crew training, CIMA Research Foundation is charting new courses toward safe and sustainable navigation. The protection of marine biodiversity and navigation safety are crucial topics, now more than ever at the center of international […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":12912,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[121],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12914","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marine-ecosystems"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12914","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12914"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12914\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12915,"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12914\/revisions\/12915"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}