The Marine Protected Area “Mediterranean Cetacean Migration Corridor” covers 46,000 km2 between the Levant, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, being one of the largest in the Mediterranean. Therefore, obtaining data that help to know the density, movements, seasonality and habitat use of cetaceans in the area is essential to achieve correct management of the area.
The northern part of the Corridor borders the Natura 2000-SCI “ESZZ16001-Western submarine canyon system of the Gulf of Lion”, identified in the INDEMARES Project as a possible feeding area for deep-diving cetaceans, the sperm whale in particular. The project aims to confirm the area as relevant for the feeding and connectivity of these cetaceans in the Corridor area with the population of the north-east of the Balearic Islands. The data collection will also be used to estimate abundance and create generalized linear models (GLMs) of other deep-diving species in the area.
To reinforce the value of the “Mediterranean Cetacean Migration Corridor” area as an area of importance for cetacean species, by obtaining updated data on the status and distribution of the populations of cetacean species in the northern limit of the Marine Protected Area “Mediterranean Cetacean Migration Corridor”, mainly deep diving and sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) species, in order to provide a proposal for management measures adapted to the characteristics of the area and protection figure.
Carrying out the sighting, photo-identification and acoustic campaign by means of a linear transect Design and realization of linear transects (Distance sampling) throughout the study area:
AHAB Project: Deep Diving cetaceans and other species in the northern sector of the Mediterranean Cetacean Migration Corridor