Cetacean Sanctuary Research

Conservation of whales and dolphins of the Pelagos Sanctuary through research and citizen science

Cetacean Sanctuary Research

Conservation of whales and dolphins of the Pelagos Sanctuary through research and citizen science

The CETACEAN SANCTUARY RESEARCH (CSR), established in 1990, is a long-term project of the Tethys Research Institute, dedicated to the study and conservation of marine mammals within the Pelagos Sanctuary in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea.

The project’s primary goal is to generate robust scientific data to support effective conservation efforts for Mediterranean cetaceans.

Findings from CSR’s early years played a key role in the establishment of the Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Mammals, with the Tethys Research Institute among its main promoters.

Since its inception, the CSR has carried out continuous monitoring and research in the Pelagos Sanctuary, resulting in the longest time series and in one of the most comprehensive datasets on cetaceans in the Mediterranean.

The CSR operates at sea every year during the summer season (May–October).

Field data collection, carried out by specialized marine biologists, also relies on public participation through citizen science. To date, over 4,000 people from various countries have joined the CSR program, supporting researchers during fieldwork.

Participants of the CSR citizen science program are the main source of funding, alongside complementary financed projects and collaborations.