ETC-UMA, through the BLUE CONNECT project, hosted a meeting in September 2025 aimed at piloting a Scientific-Technical Group for the Cetacean Migration Corridor Marine Protected Area. The meeting brought together experts working on cetacean and sea turtle monitoring, spatial analysis and modelling, marine noise and maritime traffic, fisheries interactions, marine protected area management, and marine ecology.
The session provided an opportunity for participants to exchange knowledge about ongoing research and monitoring efforts across the region. Discussions focused on existing and potential indicators and modelling tools that could help assess species distribution and the pressures affecting them within the Cetacean Migration Corridor.
The meeting marked an important step towards building cross-institutional cooperation that can provide technical advice for the management of the marine protected area. By fostering dialogue, the initiative aims to ensure that conservation decisions for the Cetacean Migration Corridor are grounded in robust scientific evidence.
The BLUE CONNECT project will continue to facilitate collaboration among researchers and stakeholders working in the region, supporting the long-term goal of effective, science-based protection of Mediterranean marine megafauna.
