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The scientific expedition Tracce nel Blu – Route for Biodiversity concluded on Friday, 9 October. It marked the second edition of ** Il Viaggio delle Balene (The Whale Journey)**, a three-year project conceived by Cooperativa La Beddula and supported by Fondazione di Sardegna. 

Departing from northeastern Sardinia on 3 October, the expedition covered 497 nautical miles along the island's coastline, bringing together a multidisciplinary team of researchers working on three complementary scientific activities: cetacean monitoring, the search for Mediterranean monk seals using environmental DNA (eDNA), and the study of marine microplastics. 

MEDSEA Foundation contributed to the expedition by coordinating visual and acoustic cetacean monitoring, as part of a joint scientific effort with the University of Milano-Bicocca and CNR-IRBIM. 

The expedition followed a route through Sardinia's Marine Protected Areas, starting from the Capo Testa – Punta Falcone Marine Protected Area, where the project originated, and with the collaboration of the Asinara National Park – Asinara Island Marine Protected Area. 

Cetacean monitoring: MEDSEA's contribution 

Over seven days at sea, MEDSEA marine biologists Lara Carosso and Michela Congiu carried out visual and acoustic cetacean monitoring, collecting data to improve our understanding of their presence and distribution in Sardinian waters. 

Monitoring activities totalled 23 hours of acoustic monitoring using a hydrophone, including nighttime sessions, and 30 hours of visual observation, during which striped dolphins and common bottlenose dolphins were sighted. 

Combining direct observation with acoustic recordings provides complementary information on cetacean presence, including in conditions where visual sightings are more difficult. 

The collected data will now be analysed to improve knowledge of the distribution of different cetacean species along the expedition route. 

Three research areas, one shared route 

Alongside cetacean monitoring, the expedition collected samples to investigate two other critical issues for Mediterranean biodiversity: the potential presence of the Mediterranean monk seal and the distribution of microplastics. 

Microplastics – 9 sampling stations and 108 filters collected 

CNR-IRBIM researchers Francesca Garaventa and Elisa Costa conducted sampling at nine stations, collecting water samples from both the surface and deeper layers, for a total of 108 filters. These samples will be analysed in CNR-IRBIM laboratories to determine the presence and characteristics of microplastics. 

Mediterranean monk seal – 14 environmental DNA samples 

For the University of Milano-Bicocca, Elena Valsecchi, molecular ecologist and initiator of Spot the Monk, together with Colm Tong, a PhD researcher at the University of Tasmania, collected 14 environmental DNA samples, including during nighttime operations. 

Sampling sites were selected based on historical records of Mediterranean monk seal presence along the Sardinian coastline, including locations such as the Bue Marino Caves near Orosei. 

50% of the eDNA samples were collected within Marine Protected Areas. Laboratory analyses will help determine whether genetic traces of the species are present. 

From research at sea to scientific knowledge 

"We conclude this expedition with very positive results, both in terms of the quantity of data collected and the quality of our teamwork," said Alessandra Aielli, expedition project manager, marine biologist and environmental engineer. "Tracce nel Blu has connected different territories linked by the same sea and involved Marine Protected Areas as active participants in a shared effort. The samples will now move to the laboratories, where analyses will provide answers about the presence of the Mediterranean monk seal and the distribution of microplastics along our route, as well as the movements and presence of different cetacean species." 

"With Tracce nel Blu, we have continued the work started last year, adding a new research area and strengthening an integrated approach," said Pieraugusto Panzalis, marine ecologist, team leader and scientific and technical coordinator of the expedition. "Visual and acoustic cetacean monitoring, eDNA and microplastics research, carried out along the same route, allow us to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the marine environment. Each year, we would like to build on existing data by exploring new routes and adding further pieces of knowledge. Il Viaggio delle Balene aims to build a solid, long-term knowledge base to support the protection of the Mediterranean." 

With the sailing expedition completed, scientific work continues in the laboratories and through the processing of field observations. 

The findings will be presented in three dedicated reports: one covering cetacean sightings and acoustic recordings, a second providing georeferenced mapping of Mediterranean monk seal eDNA signals, and a third presenting qualitative and quantitative analyses of microplastics. 

The validated datasets will contribute to improving scientific knowledge of Sardinia's marine biodiversity and may support future monitoring, management and conservation activities across Mediterranean marine ecosystems. 

Il Viaggio delle Balene is a three-year project conceived by Cooperativa La Beddula and supported by Fondazione di Sardegna. Its second edition, Tracce nel Blu – Route for Biodiversity, brought together MEDSEA Foundation, the University of Milano-Bicocca and CNR-IRBIM in a joint scientific effort, with the involvement of Marine Protected Areas. The expedition was also supported by Moby Traghetti, NSS Charter and Sommozzatori Dilamar.