APPROCCIO INTEGRATO PER LO STUDIO DELLA PRESENZA DEI CETACEI PRESSO L’ARCIPELAGO DELLE ISOLE TREMITI (BASSO ADRIATICO)

AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO INVESTIGATING THE PRESENCE OF CETACEANS IN THE TREMITI ISLANDS ARCHIPELAGO (SOUTHERN ADRIATIC SEA)

Abstract

The Marine Protected Area of Tremiti Islands has very limited information on the presence of cetaceans in the area between the islands and the Italian coast. This study provides preliminary insights on cetacean occurrence obtained through an integrated approach including web- and field-based data collection. The web-based approach consisted of collecting videos from social media using keywords to obtain sighting information. The field-based approach consisted of eight surveys conducted from June to September 2024 on ferries along the Termoli–San Nicola route, using the Fixed Line Transect protocol. Out of 50 videos analyzed (2013–2024), the occurrence of Balaenoptera physalus, Stenella coeruleoalba, and Tursiops truncatus was reported. During the surveys, five sightings were carried out, confirming the presence of T. truncatus and highlighting the need to increase monitoring efforts at local level.