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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4-day Kayak and Wild Camp the Archipelago - Selfguided
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Sea Kayaking Trip in Medes Islands
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Sea Kayak Adventure in the North Coast of Cornwall
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Alexander Shipwreck Dive in Ria de Arousa
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Whale Watching & Vila Franca Islet Tour
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PADI Discover Scuba Diving in Tossa de Mar
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Smuggler’s Cove Kayak or big SUP tour in Barrika Flysch
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Diving & Sightseeing Boat Tour in Cascais
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Seal Watching Trip
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Sailing Trip to Izaro Island
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Nautilus Environmental Cruise in Vigo
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Respectful Whale Watching in La Gomera
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Kayaking with Dolphins & Turtles in Tenerife
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Sesimbra & Espichel Grotto Boat Tour
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Surf & Wine Tasting Trip from Barcelona
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Wreck Dive El Penon
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Sea Kayak Tour in Foz
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UK
Scotland
Highlands
Catalonia
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Illas Sisargas
Spain
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Costa da Morte
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Jardim dos Nudibrânquios
Portugal
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Porec
Croatia
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Porec
Portnoo
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County Donegal
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La Gomera
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Canary Islands
La Gomera
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Mariña Lucense
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Costa Barcelona
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Costa Barcelona
SS Hildebrand
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Manacles Reef
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Cornwall
Falmouth Area
Manacles Reef
Lobeira Islands
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Galicia
Costa da Morte
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Pednathise Head
UK
Cornwall
Isles of Scilly
Pednathise Head
Pedra da Âncora
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Pedra da Âncora
Lanzarote
Spain
Canary Islands
Lanzarote
Ponta de Rana
Portugal
Lisbon region
Cascais
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St John's Point
Ireland
County Donegal
Donegal Bay
St John's Point
Ibiza & Formentera
Spain
Balearic Islands
Ibiza & Formentera
Cita Wreckage
UK
Cornwall
Isles of Scilly
Cita Wreckage
River Gurara - Popa
Portugal
Lisbon region
Sesimbra
River Gurara - Popa
Jardim do Vau
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Jardim do Vau
Brijuni National Park
Croatia
Istria
Brijuni National Park
El Hierro
Spain
Canary Islands
El Hierro
Spiros
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Spiros
Aries Shipwreck
Spain
Galicia
Rias Baixas
Ria de Arousa
Aries Shipwreck
Umag & Novigrad
Croatia
Istria
Umag & Novigrad
Las Raras
Spain
Galicia
Costa da Morte
Las Raras
Blasket Islands
Ireland
County Kerry
Blasket Islands
Lisbon region
Portugal
Lisbon region
El Cabron
Spain
Canary Islands
Gran Canaria
El Cabron
Inishowen
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
Talland Bay
UK
Cornwall
South East Cornwall
Talland Bay
Menorca
Spain
Balearic Islands
Menorca
Pedra da Nau
Portugal
Lisbon region
Cascais
Pedra da Nau
Grianan of Aileach
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
Grianan of Aileach
Krka National Park
Croatia
Sibenik-Knin
Krka National Park
Arranmore Island
Ireland
County Donegal
Gaeltacht and Donegal Islands
Arranmore Island
Tenerife
Spain
Canary Islands
Tenerife
Newquay
UK
Cornwall
North coast
Newquay
Castle Beach and Silversteps
UK
Cornwall
Falmouth Area
Castle Beach and Silversteps
Praia da Duquesa
Portugal
Lisbon region
Cascais
Praia da Duquesa
Gran Canaria
Spain
Canary Islands
Gran Canaria
El Palmar
Spain
Andalusia
Cadiz
El Palmar
Liguria
Italy
Liguria
Costa Daurada
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Daurada
El Montgrí, Illes Medes i Baix Ter Natural Park
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Brava
El Montgrí, Illes Medes i Baix Ter Natural Park
Falmouth Area
UK
Cornwall
Falmouth Area
Costa Brava
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Brava
Cap de Creus
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Brava
Cap de Creus
Underwater Canyons of Maresme
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Barcelona
Underwater Canyons of Maresme
Sliabh Liag
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County Donegal
Gaeltacht and Donegal Islands
Sliabh Liag
Portnablagh Beach
Ireland
County Donegal
Fanad Peninsula
Portnablagh Beach
Farol da Guia
Portugal
Lisbon region
Cascais
Farol da Guia
Gobbins and Larne
UK
Northern Ireland
Causeway Coast & Glens
Gobbins and Larne
Illa de Rua
Spain
Galicia
Rias Baixas
Ria de Arousa
Illa de Rua
Owey Island
Ireland
County Donegal
Gaeltacht and Donegal Islands
Owey Island
Torre de Hercules - Punta Herminia
Spain
Galicia
Costa da Morte
Torre de Hercules - Punta Herminia
Fanad Head
Ireland
County Donegal
Fanad Peninsula
Fanad Head
The Quies
UK
Cornwall
North coast
Newquay
The Quies
Bota de Fora
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Bota de Fora
Istria
Croatia
Istria
Inishtrahull Island
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
Inishtrahull Island
County Donegal
Ireland
County Donegal
Gilstone Reef
UK
Cornwall
Isles of Scilly
Gilstone Reef
Pedra do Mariano
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Pedra do Mariano
Fuerteventura
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Canary Islands
Fuerteventura
Delta de l'Ebre Natural Park
Spain
Catalonia
Terres de l'Ebre
Delta de l'Ebre Natural Park
Aiguamolls de l'Empordà
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Catalonia
Costa Brava
Aiguamolls de l'Empordà
Teelin
Ireland
County Donegal
Donegal Bay
Teelin
Pedra do Leao
Portugal
Lisbon region
Sesimbra
Pedra do Leao
Lough Swilly
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
Lough Swilly
Tossa de Mar
Spain
Catalonia
Costa Brava
Tossa de Mar
Parque das Gorgonias
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Parque das Gorgonias
Vrsar & Vuntana
Croatia
Istria
Vrsar & Vuntana
Malin Beg
Ireland
County Donegal
Donegal Bay
Malin Beg
North Inishowen
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
North Inishowen
Central Wales
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Wales
Central Wales
Delta del Llobregat Natural Park
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Catalonia
Costa Barcelona
Delta del Llobregat Natural Park
HMS Scylla
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Cornwall
South East Cornwall
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Illa de Salvora
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Galicia
Rias Baixas
Ria de Arousa
Illa de Salvora
Hatt Rock
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South East Cornwall
Hatt Rock
The Volnay
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Cornwall
Falmouth Area
The Volnay
Skye and Lochalsh
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Scotland
Highlands
Skye and Lochalsh
Porth Rock Reef
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Cornwall
North coast
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Majorca
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Balearic Islands
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Lisbon region
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Tarifa
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Andalusia
Cadiz
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Pedras de Portimao
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Portimao
Pedras de Portimao
Punta Socastro
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Galicia
Mariña Lucense
Punta Socastro
The Syracusa
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Forte da Baralha
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Lisbon region
Sesimbra
Forte da Baralha
La Palma
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Canary Islands
La Palma
Barcelona
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Catalonia
Costa Barcelona
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Tory Island
Ireland
County Donegal
Gaeltacht and Donegal Islands
Tory Island
Gemeos Grandes
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Gemeos Grandes
Cape Kamenjak
Croatia
Istria
Cape Kamenjak
Causeway Coast
UK
Northern Ireland
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Gemeos Pequenos
Portugal
Algarve
Portimao
Gemeos Pequenos
Illa de Ons
Spain
Galicia
Rias Baixas
Ria de Arousa
Illa de Ons
Pula & Medulin
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Istria
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Ponta da Passagem
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Lisbon region
Sesimbra
Ponta da Passagem
Dragonera Island
Spain
Balearic Islands
Majorca
Dragonera Island
Madeira
Portugal
Madeira Islands
Madeira
Cabo Raso
Portugal
Lisbon region
Cascais
Cabo Raso
Mulroy Bay
Ireland
County Donegal
Fanad Peninsula
Mulroy Bay
Ballycastle and Rathlin
UK
Northern Ireland
Causeway Coast & Glens
Ballycastle and Rathlin
South Wales
UK
Wales
South Wales
Illa Coelleira
Spain
Galicia
Mariña Lucense
Illa Coelleira
Basque Country
Spain
Basque Country
Labin & Rabac
Croatia
Istria
Labin & Rabac
The Glens of Antrim
UK
Northern Ireland
Causeway Coast & Glens
The Glens of Antrim
Jardim das Gorgonias
Portugal
Lisbon region
Sesimbra
Jardim das Gorgonias
Malin Head
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
Malin Head
Causeway Coast & Glens
UK
Northern Ireland
Causeway Coast & Glens
Trawbreaga Bay
Ireland
County Donegal
Inishowen
Trawbreaga Bay
Baia da Armacao
Portugal
Lisbon region
Sesimbra
Baia da Armacao
West Wales
UK
Wales
West Wales
Portofino
Italy
Liguria
Genoa
Portofino
Cinque Terre
Italy
Liguria
Genoa
Cinque Terre
Garraf Natural Park
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Catalonia
Costa Barcelona
Garraf Natural Park
Götaland
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Götaland
Algarve
Portugal
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60.00
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100.00
Mountain bike tour of Portofino
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