The Spanish Mediterranean has become a hotspot for whale research. In recent weeks, two scientific campaigns have yielded surprising data on the presence of these cetaceans in the waters around the Iberian Peninsula, while a technological project promises to improve their protection through artificial intelligence. The combination of visual observation, passive acoustics, and drones is allowing researchers to gain a better understanding of species that often go unnoticed beneath the surface.
The projects, funded by European and national funds, reflect the growing interest in conserving marine biodiversity and species in an area of ​​great ecological richness. The Alboran Sea and the Marina Alta coast are two of the areas where the most progress has been made, with results exceeding the expectations of the teams involved.
Expedition in the Alboran Sea: 66 encounters with the common beaked whale
A team from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) has completed the CETALBORAN0526 campaign, covering 969 nautical miles between Nerja and Cabo de Gata . During 146 hours of effective observation, the scientists recorded 66 encounters with the common beaked whale, a deep-diving cetacean that is particularly difficult to locate due to its long dives. The expedition combined visual observation with passive acoustics, a technique that allows researchers to capture underwater sounds even when the animals do not surface. The acoustic data will now be processed in the laboratory to improve the identification of signals and estimate the abundance of this species in the Alboran Sea, an area of ​​high oceanographic productivity that the IEO considers key for cetaceans.
Record number of sightings of fin whales in the Marina Alta
Meanwhile, researchers from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) documented 127 fin whales off the coast of the Marina Alta region between late May and early July. The fin whale, the second largest animal on the planet, is listed as "Endangered" in the Mediterranean by the IUCN. Thanks to the use of drones, the team was able to photo-identify more than 80 individuals and obtain six non-invasive blow samples, which will allow them to determine the animals' sex and their hormonal status. They also detected several females with calves in active migration , data that researchers consider crucial for the species' recovery. Ninety percent of the sightings occurred from land, at Cape San Antonio, where a support team coordinated the boat trips.
Smart buoys to protect whales
To reduce the risk of collisions with vessels, one of the main threats to cetaceans, a consortium led by the Polytechnic Institute of Braganza (Portugal) and the University of Valladolid (UVa) is developing a system of autonomous buoys equipped with artificial intelligence . Each buoy incorporates a hydrophone that captures whale vocalizations and analyzes them in real time using machine learning algorithms. Unlike current systems, all processing is done onboard, reducing energy consumption and allowing the buoys to be deployed in remote areas. The project, which has received initial funding of $2.000 , aims to build a first functional prototype that can alert nearby vessels when the presence of cetaceans is detected, thus contributing to safer navigation in migratory corridors.
These three initiatives demonstrate that whale research in the Spanish Mediterranean is progressing well, combining traditional methods with cutting-edge technologies. Data collected in the Alboran Sea and the Marina Alta region are already allowing scientists to update population estimates and improve conservation strategies, while smart buoys promise to reduce accidents in the future. The work now continues in laboratories, where samples and acoustic recordings will be analyzed to further uncover the secrets of these giants of the ocean.