Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge is advancing measures to reduce collisions between ships and sperm whales and other marine mammals, especially in transitional zones around the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands.
To achieve this, the foundation began work under the LIFE Intermares project. A recent study by the University of La Laguna in Tenerife aims to gather distribution data for the archipelagos. The goal is to design management actions in the coming months that will lower collision risks, as such incidents threaten the species, with a noted impact that 60 percent of mortalities come from vessel strikes. This effort is part of a broader drive to protect marine biodiversity and promote safer maritime operations in these busy waters.
In particular, the Fundación Biodiversidad will collaborate with the Association of Tursiops in the Balearic Islands on genetic analyses of sperm whale samples to monitor populations, alongside satellite tagging and photo identification campaigns. Technicians will deploy hydrophones at strategic crossing points in the Mallorca and Ibiza channels to conduct acoustic passive monitoring of marine mammals. This approach helps reveal movement patterns and presence in sensitive corridors, informing safer shipping routes and speed controls. (attribution: University of La Laguna)
Vessel traffic in these waters includes ferry services operating between the peninsula and the islands, as well as crossings among the islands themselves. The project analyzes vessel routes to determine whether they intersect with critical habitats and stopover zones for marine mammals. Parallel efforts will include similar photo identification, satellite marking, genetic analysis, and targeted sampling in the Canary Islands to confirm sperm whale distribution and habitat use. (attribution: LIFE Intermares project overview)
Across the Macaronesian archipelago, the foundation will extend cooperation with partners in Europe, including universities and research platforms in Hungary, along with the University of La Laguna, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and the Canary Islands Ocean Platform PLOCAN and CEAMAR. The plan includes testing specialized thermal imaging cameras designed for detecting sperm whales in high-risk transport corridors. This technology supports rapid identification and response measures to minimize collision risks while ships travel these corridors. (attribution: LIFE Intermares program and participating institutions)
All data collected from these studies will be integrated with existing marine traffic analyses developed by the Public Works and Trial Center CEDEX. The aim is to propose a comprehensive prevention program and to launch a pilot initiative focused on reducing collisions between vessels and marine mammals. The combined insights will help shape routing recommendations, speed adjustments, and awareness campaigns for crews and port authorities, ultimately protecting vulnerable populations while maintaining efficient maritime operations. (attribution: CEDEX marine traffic analyses)