Managing multiple pressures for cetaceans' conservation with an Ecosystem-Based Marine Spatial Planning approach

Area of Science:

• Marine conservation biology
• Ecosystem-based management
• Cetacean ecology

Background:

• Cetaceans play a vital ecological role in marine ecosystems.
• Mediterranean Sea cetacean protection is limited despite significant human and climate pressures.
• Gaps in knowledge hinder effective conservation strategies for Mediterranean cetaceans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply an Ecosystem-Based Marine Spatial Planning (EB-MSP) approach to assess human pressures on cetaceans.
• To guide the designation of a conservation area in the Gulf of Taranto, Northern Ionian Sea.
• To identify and recommend conservation strategies for cetaceans in the study area.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an Ecosystem-Based Marine Spatial Planning (EB-MSP) framework.
• Employed a risk-based approach to analyze cause-effect relationships between human activities and cetacean impacts.
• Synthesized information from empirical evidence, scientific literature, grey literature, and expert judgment.

Main Results:

• Identified underwater noise, marine litter, ship collisions, and prey competition/disturbance as major threats to cetaceans in the Gulf of Taranto.
• Determined the Gulf of Taranto's eligibility for various legally and non-legally binding area-based management tools (ABMTs).
• Highlighted significant human pressures on cetaceans in an area lacking specific conservation measures.

Conclusions:

• The Gulf of Taranto is crucial for various cetacean life stages and warrants specific conservation measures.
• Sectoral coordination and the establishment of an ABMT are essential for effective cetacean conservation in the Gulf of Taranto.
• An EB-MSP approach is vital for managing human activities and enhancing cetacean protection in the Mediterranean.