A partnership agreement regarding the protection of cetaceans in the Caprera Canyon was signed at Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

Porto Cervo (Sassari), 11 September 2020 – The Caprera Canyon lies under an area of sea between 15 and 30 miles from Capo Ferro, in Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda (or Emerald Coast). This vibrant submarine canyon is home to seven species of whales and dolphins, known in scientific terms as cetaceans. On 11 September 2020, a partnership agreement was signed between the One Ocean Foundation and the NATO STO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, in northern Sardinia, to launch a joint research project that raises awareness of the impacts of environmental and acoustic pollution on the marine wildlife in the Caprera Canyon. This project will run from October 2020 to the end of 2021 with the results published in peer-reviewed, international literature.

The mission of the One Ocean Foundation, founded by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in 2018, is to protect marine environments through accelerating solutions to ocean issues. With over 60 years of experience in undersea research, CMRE is a recognized centre of world-class expertise in the maritime domain, including 20 years of experience in studying the impact of acoustic sound on marine mammals.

Building upon whale observation analyses conducted by the SEAME Sardinia Onlus organization, this project will measure the impacts of human activity on the survival of cetaceans in the Caprera Canyon. CMRE will provide sophisticated acoustic monitoring technologies consisting of smart sensor-based 3D recorders that will collect the underwater sounds produced by the cetaceans. Through the analysis of the sounds of whales and dolphins deep within the canyon, this research will provide a greater understanding of their behavior and will be important in pinpointing elements of environmental and acoustic pollution in the area.

“This extraordinary partnership confirms our growing commitment to high-level international scientific research. We will continue to protect marine life using particularly cutting-edge technologies made available by CMRE, something that we are especially proud of,” commented Riccardo Bonadeo, Vice President of One Ocean Foundation.

“I am excited to be able to share over 60 years of accumulated underwater acoustics knowledge acquired by CMRE with One Ocean Foundation,” says CMRE Director, Dr. Catherine Warner. “The Centre has extensive experience in the acoustic monitoring of cetaceans, which will integrate with the valuable scientific initiatives already underway by the Foundation in the Caprera Canyon area. The ultimate goal of this project is to increase awareness of the marine mammals that populate the incredibly diverse coastal waters of Sardinia and to guarantee their protection.”

This project will support the official recognition of the Caprera Canyon as an Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA), as designated by the International Committee on Marine Mammal Protected Areas and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. If recognized as an IMMA, the submarine canyon could be protected with restrictions on human activity for conservation purposes. This project will culminate in a series of educational projects for both adults and students.

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One Ocean Foundation

One Ocean Foundation is an internationally-recognized Italian initiative created in March 2018 by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the aim of safeguarding the oceans.  The Foundation’s mission is to accelerate solutions to problems involving the oceans by inspiring international leaders, companies, institutions and individuals; promoting a sustainable blue economy; and increasing knowledge of the oceans through ocean literacy. One of the Foundation’s main projects is Business for Ocean Sustainability, a research project that lays out guidelines and best practices for companies to address the challenges posed by sustainability. One Ocean Foundation sets itself apart thanks to its network of partners, its high-calibre scientific committee, and its strong drive and dedication to promoting a blue economy and a culture of sustainability.

NATO STO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation

The Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE), located in La Spezia, is an executive body of NATO's Science and Technology Organization (STO). Building on over 60 years of knowledge and experience, CMRE supports NATOs technological advantage in the maritime domain by strengthening the science and technology network, accelerating critical Alliance capabilities and building capacity through partnerships. CMRE provides an outstanding at-sea research environment where internationally recognized scientists and engineers from all NATO Nations and Partners collaborate and deliver results more efficiently than would be possible by individual nations. The Centre conducts cutting-edge maritime experimentation and demonstration in challenging ocean environments from the Mediterranean Sea to the Arctic Ocean.

For more information:

One Ocean Foundation
Barabino & Partners:
Francesca Manco – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Federica Ceccarino – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+39 02 7202 3535

NATO STO-CMRE
Public Affairs Office
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