The fourth meeting of the SeaInsights project group took place at the University of Padua (UNIPD), bringing together all six project partners (UL, UNIPD, DBC, MOR, DL, SHO). The purpose of the meeting was to review progress in the individual work packages and to coordinate upcoming activities.
In the morning, UNIPD prepared a special program for the partners, which included a virtual simulation of a necropsy of a dolphin, turtle or other marine animals, a visit to the Museum of Veterinary Medicine, and a guided tour of the Mediterranean Marine Mammals Tissue Bank. This gave participants the opportunity to gain deeper insight into the hosts’ research work and facilities.
After lunch, the meeting continued with a review of project activities. The partners confirmed the completion of eDNA sampling in the northern Adriatic and presented the first results on dolphin distribution. Progress was also reported in the field of health analyses of stranded dolphins and the development of common protocols. In addition, researchers presented the first outcomes of innovative sampling methods, including a comparison between the “bucket” method and drone-based sampling.
The meeting also focused on the development of knowledge-transfer tools. Discussions addressed research on cultural ecosystem services and the preparation of guidelines and educational materials for schools. Partners were reminded of the importance of submitting reports and communication outputs on time, to ensure coordinated and efficient work in the coming months.
The next internal meeting of the project group will be held online in January 2026. In the meantime, partners will conduct several working meetings and continue with the analysis of the data collected.
