The University of Valencia participates in a European project which main objective is to increase knowledge of Mediterranean cetaceans and turtles in order to be able to establish conservation plans agreed at an international level
The European project LIFE CONCEPTU MARIS will collect data from cetaceans and sea turtles over the next 4 years, using new methodologies to increase knowledge of these species. The detection of DNA traces dispersed in the water of these animals will be carried out using the eDNA - Environmental DNA technology. In addition, data will be collected from the albiraments of cetaceans obtained from *commercial fisheries.
LIFE20 NAT/IT/001371 CONCEPTU MARIS CONservation of CEtaceans and Pelagic siga TUrtles in Med: Managing Actions for their Recovery in Sustainability, is a project supported by the LIFE programme. This project is coordinated by Ispra (Institut Superior de Protecció i Investigació Ambiental) with the participation of Àrea Marina Protegida "Capo Carbonara", Fundació d'Investigació CIM, CMCC Climate, ÉcoOcéan Institut (France), Estació Zoològica Anton Dohrn, Triton Research, Universitat de Milà-Bicocca, Universitat de Palerm, Universitat de València, and Universitat de Torí.
The Marine Zoology Unit of the Cavanilles Institute of the UV carried out the first trip on the Balearia Ferries from Eivissa to Valencia and from Palma to Valencia to cross the area of the Cetaceans Migration Corridor on 1 February. Data were collected on sightings of different species of cetaceans, such as bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphins, short-finned pilot whales and Cuvier's beaked whales. In addition, 1 loggerhead sea turtle sighting was carried out.
Once all the data from the project will be collected, the potential impacts to which these animals are subjected will be assessed, and areas for the conservation of the most endangered species will be identified. All this data will also serve to define a standard approach to the long-term monitoring of these animals and encourage international cooperation.
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