Sperm-whale
Physeter macrocephalus
Brings you the best marine ecotourism experiences in Europe
Objective
WhaleSafe
Whale protection from Strike by Active cetaceans detection and alarm issue and Ferries
Targeted Species & Habitats
WhaleSafe
About this project
WhaleSafe
The Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Mammals is a special marine protected area in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea. It is located between Liguria, France and Sardinia, and covers an area of around 90,000 km2. The sanctuary is the most important breeding and feeding site for cetacean populations living in the Mediterranean Sea and thus crucial for their well-being. The unique seabed features in the area, such as canyons, attract a large number of sperm whales that often emerge near the coast. Major commercial, tourist and industrial sites are also located in the area, and marine traffic (e.g. passenger, cargo and fishing boats) increases particularly during the summer, when the presence of sperm whales is also higher. Collisions and injured animals are consequently frequent and have a very high negative impact on the species, whose Mediterranean sub-population counts at just 2,500 mature individuals. The project wants to develop an interference avoidance system aimed at detecting and tracking sperm whales, identifying threats to them, and preventing collisions and other risks by issuing warning messages in real time to vessels in the area. A protocol for reducing the disturbance and impact risks is being drafted in cooperation with the local coast guard, and agreed by all stakeholders involved. After receiving the warning message, ships will be invited to apply this protocol and the coast guard will supervise its application. The system is innovative because it prevents ship impacts with the whales by monitoring and tracking the animals underwater, by acoustic means. This aspect is vital, considering sperm whales spend three quarters of their time underwater.
Multimedia and photos
WhaleSafe
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Whale Watching Tour & Snorkeling in São Miguel
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7-day Mediterranean Sailing Expedition
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SUP Adventure in Nazaré
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Algarve SUP Coast & Caves Tour
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Dolphin Watching Trip in Portimão
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Double dive in Portofino
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5-day Sailing Route in Rías Baixas
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Kayak Tour in Bogesund Nature Reserve
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A Day in Rathlin Island
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Half-Day Sea Kayak Tour of Portofino
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Killer Whale Watching Trip in Tarifa
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Sea Mindfulness Experience in Cap de Creus
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Coasteering in Pembrokeshire
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Diving & Sightseeing Boat Tour in Cascais
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Bike Tour of Ria Formosa
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Discover Europe's best natural landscapes
County Sligo
Ireland
County Sligo
Newquay
UK
Cornwall
North coast
Newquay
Götaland
Sweden
Götaland
Tenerife
Spain
Canary Islands
Tenerife
Talland Bay
UK
Cornwall
South East Cornwall
Talland Bay
Catalonia
Spain
Catalonia
Rovinj
Croatia
Istria
Rovinj
Pednathise Head
UK
Cornwall
Isles of Scilly
Pednathise Head
Blasket Islands
Ireland
County Kerry
Blasket Islands
The Glens of Antrim
UK
Northern Ireland
Causeway Coast & Glens
The Glens of Antrim
El Montgrí, Illes Medes i Baix Ter Natural Park
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Brava
El Montgrí, Illes Medes i Baix Ter Natural Park
Krka National Park
Croatia
Sibenik-Knin
Krka National Park
River Gurara - Popa
Portugal
Lisbon region
Sesimbra
River Gurara - Popa
Underwater Canyons of Maresme
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Barcelona
Underwater Canyons of Maresme
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Catalonia
Costa Barcelona
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Tory Island
Ireland
County Donegal
Gaeltacht and Donegal Islands
Tory Island
Lough Swilly
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
Lough Swilly
Portofino
Italy
Liguria
Genoa
Portofino
Hemptons Turbot Bank
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
Hemptons Turbot Bank
Bota de Fora
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Bota de Fora
Sliabh Liag
Ireland
County Donegal
Gaeltacht and Donegal Islands
Sliabh Liag
Trawbreaga Bay
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
Trawbreaga Bay
Las Raras
Spain
Galicia
Costa da Morte
Las Raras
Ballycastle and Rathlin
UK
Northern Ireland
Causeway Coast & Glens
Ballycastle and Rathlin
Aries Shipwreck
Spain
Galicia
Rias Baixas
Ria de Arousa
Aries Shipwreck
North Inishowen
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
North Inishowen
Punta Socastro
Spain
Galicia
Mariña Lucense
Punta Socastro
West Wales
UK
Wales
West Wales
Pula & Medulin
Croatia
Istria
Pula & Medulin
Praia da Duquesa
Portugal
Lisbon region
Cascais
Praia da Duquesa
Pedras de Portimao
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Pedras de Portimao
The Quies
UK
Cornwall
North coast
Newquay
The Quies
Farol da Guia
Portugal
Lisbon region
Cascais
Farol da Guia
Cornwall
UK
Cornwall
Brijuni National Park
Croatia
Istria
Brijuni National Park
Illa de Rua
Spain
Galicia
Rias Baixas
Ria de Arousa
Illa de Rua
Svealand
Sweden
Svealand
Pedra da Âncora
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Pedra da Âncora
The Syracusa
UK
Cornwall
North coast
Newquay
The Syracusa
Illa Coelleira
Spain
Galicia
Mariña Lucense
Illa Coelleira
Illa de Salvora
Spain
Galicia
Rias Baixas
Ria de Arousa
Illa de Salvora
Causeway Coast & Glens
UK
Northern Ireland
Causeway Coast & Glens
HMS Scylla
UK
Cornwall
South East Cornwall
HMS Scylla
Porth Rock Reef
UK
Cornwall
North coast
Newquay
Porth Rock Reef
Basque Country
Spain
Basque Country
Tossa de Mar
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Brava
Tossa de Mar
Tarifa
Spain
Andalusia
Cadiz
Tarifa
Porec
Croatia
Istria
Porec
Costa Daurada
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Daurada
Gemeos Pequenos
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Gemeos Pequenos
Castle Beach and Silversteps
UK
Cornwall
Falmouth Area
Castle Beach and Silversteps
Illa de Ons
Spain
Galicia
Rias Baixas
Ria de Arousa
Illa de Ons
Gobbins and Larne
UK
Northern Ireland
Causeway Coast & Glens
Gobbins and Larne
Gemeos Grandes
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Gemeos Grandes
St John's Point
Ireland
County Donegal
Donegal Bay
St John's Point
Madeira
Portugal
Madeira Islands
Madeira
Costa Barcelona
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Barcelona
Arranmore Island
Ireland
County Donegal
Gaeltacht and Donegal Islands
Arranmore Island
Norrland
Sweden
Norrland
Cinque Terre
Italy
Liguria
Genoa
Cinque Terre
Istria
Croatia
Istria
Manacles Reef
UK
Cornwall
Falmouth Area
Manacles Reef
Delta de l'Ebre Natural Park
Spain
Catalonia
Terres de l'Ebre
Delta de l'Ebre Natural Park
El Palmar
Spain
Andalusia
Cadiz
El Palmar
Liguria
Italy
Liguria
Majorca
Spain
Balearic Islands
Majorca
Lisbon region
Portugal
Lisbon region
Ibiza & Formentera
Spain
Balearic Islands
Ibiza & Formentera
Costa Brava
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Brava
Pedra da Nau
Portugal
Lisbon region
Cascais
Pedra da Nau
Cita Wreckage
UK
Cornwall
Isles of Scilly
Cita Wreckage
Fuerteventura
Spain
Canary Islands
Fuerteventura
Algarve
Portugal
Algarve
Garraf Natural Park
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Barcelona
Garraf Natural Park
Cape Kamenjak
Croatia
Istria
Cape Kamenjak
Parque das Gorgonias
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Parque das Gorgonias
Umag & Novigrad
Croatia
Istria
Umag & Novigrad
Ponta de Rana
Portugal
Lisbon region
Cascais
Ponta de Rana
La Palma
Spain
Canary Islands
La Palma
Ponta da Passagem
Portugal
Lisbon region
Sesimbra
Ponta da Passagem
Pedra do Mariano
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Pedra do Mariano
County Donegal
Ireland
County Donegal
Lobeira Islands
Spain
Galicia
Costa da Morte
Lobeira Islands
Baia da Armacao
Portugal
Lisbon region
Sesimbra
Baia da Armacao
Menorca
Spain
Balearic Islands
Menorca
Skye and Lochalsh
UK
Scotland
Highlands
Skye and Lochalsh
Portnablagh Beach
Ireland
County Donegal
Fanad Peninsula
Portnablagh Beach
Malin Head
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
Malin Head
Aiguamolls de l'Empordà
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Brava
Aiguamolls de l'Empordà
El Cabron
Spain
Canary Islands
Gran Canaria
El Cabron
South Wales
UK
Wales
South Wales
Jardim dos Nudibrânquios
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Jardim dos Nudibrânquios
Inishowen
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
Teelin
Ireland
County Donegal
Donegal Bay
Teelin
Central Wales
UK
Wales
Central Wales
Forte da Baralha
Portugal
Lisbon region
Sesimbra
Forte da Baralha
El Hierro
Spain
Canary Islands
El Hierro
Illas Sisargas
Spain
Galicia
Costa da Morte
Illas Sisargas
Tixoso
Spain
Galicia
Mariña Lucense
Tixoso
The Volnay
UK
Cornwall
Falmouth Area
The Volnay
Causeway Coast
UK
Northern Ireland
Causeway Coast & Glens
Causeway Coast
Lanzarote
Spain
Canary Islands
Lanzarote
Kornati National Park
Croatia
Sibenik-Knin
Kornati National Park
Highlands
UK
Scotland
Highlands
La Gomera
Spain
Canary Islands
La Gomera
Spiros
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Spiros
Pedra do Meio
Portugal
Lisbon region
Sesimbra
Pedra do Meio
North Wales
UK
Wales
North Wales
Fanad Head
Ireland
County Donegal
Fanad Peninsula
Fanad Head
Portnoo
Ireland
County Donegal
Donegal Bay
Portnoo
Gran Canaria
Spain
Canary Islands
Gran Canaria
Labin & Rabac
Croatia
Istria
Labin & Rabac
Falmouth Area
UK
Cornwall
Falmouth Area
Jardim do Vau
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Jardim do Vau
Torre de Hercules - Punta Herminia
Spain
Galicia
Costa da Morte
Torre de Hercules - Punta Herminia
SS Hildebrand
Portugal
Lisbon region
Cascais
SS Hildebrand
Cap de Creus
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Brava
Cap de Creus
Inishtrahull Island
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
Inishtrahull Island
Porto Santo
Portugal
Madeira Islands
Porto Santo
Gilstone Reef
UK
Cornwall
Isles of Scilly
Gilstone Reef
Dragonera Island
Spain
Balearic Islands
Majorca
Dragonera Island
Delta del Llobregat Natural Park
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Barcelona
Delta del Llobregat Natural Park
Malin Beg
Ireland
County Donegal
Donegal Bay
Malin Beg
Grianan of Aileach
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
Grianan of Aileach
Owey Island
Ireland
County Donegal
Gaeltacht and Donegal Islands
Owey Island
Jardim das Gorgonias
Portugal
Lisbon region
Sesimbra
Jardim das Gorgonias
Cabo Raso
Portugal
Lisbon region
Cascais
Cabo Raso
Vrsar & Vuntana
Croatia
Istria
Vrsar & Vuntana
Hatt Rock
UK
Cornwall
South East Cornwall
Hatt Rock
Pedra do Leao
Portugal
Lisbon region
Sesimbra
Pedra do Leao
Mulroy Bay
Ireland
County Donegal
Fanad Peninsula
Mulroy Bay
Find your next marine wildlife experience in Europe!
75.00
2-hour Private Catamaran Trip in Barcelona
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Costa Barcelona
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17.00
Coastal snorkeling route in Palafrugell
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56.00
Sea Kayaking Adventure in Cape Kamenjak
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40.00
Seville by Kayak Guided Tour
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57.50
Heritage, Wildlife & Star Wars Movie Tour
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150.00
Surf Course for Beginners
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30.00
Snorkeling in Portofino
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1290.00
Ocean Protection Volunteer Program in Split
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52.00
Portofino Sunset Kayak & Wine Tour
Italy
Liguria
Genoa
Portofino
60.00
Dolphin Watching Tour in Lisbon
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49.00
Sunset Sailing Tour in Bilbao
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480.00
Private Boat Trip from Barcelona
Spain
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55.00
Tandem Paragliding over Getxo
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Basque Country
350.00
4-Day Sea Kayak Tour in the Algarve
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35.00
Inishowen Boating Experience
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835.00
Cetacean Sanctuary Research Project
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30.00
Surf & Wine Tasting Trip from Barcelona
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520.00
4-Day Marine Eco Guided SUP Tour in Cornwall
UK
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90.00
Eco Dive Baptism in Sesimbra
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35.00
Coastal Heritage Cruise in Kincasslagh
Ireland
County Donegal
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