As part of the SEAINSIGHTS project, the deliverable dedicated to the analysis of marine mammal strandings along the Northern Adriatic coast has been completed. This activity represents an important step toward understanding the health status of the marine ecosystem and monitoring the environmental and anthropogenic pressures affecting cetaceans and other large marine vertebrates.
The report gathers and analyzes data related to strandings recorded between 2023 and April 2026 along the Italian and Slovenian coasts of the Northern Adriatic, thanks to the collaboration among universities, research institutions, monitoring networks, veterinary services, and organizations involved in marine conservation. A total of 39 stranded marine mammals were documented, almost exclusively represented by the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), a symbolic species of the Northern Adriatic Sea.
The activities carried out went far beyond the simple recording of stranding events and included necropsies, biological sampling, microbiological, parasitological, and toxicological analyses. In particular, the report investigates the presence of emerging contaminants such as PFAS and mercury in cetacean tissues, providing new insights into the exposure of marine mammals to pollutants in the marine environment.
Among the most significant events documented during the study period were exceptional cases such as the discovery of a fin whale in the port of Muggia and the rescue of a live striped dolphin stranded along the coast of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. These events highlighted the importance of a rapid and coordinated response network capable of intervening in both health emergencies and conservation activities.
The deliverable confirms the value of stranding monitoring networks as essential tools for scientific research, marine biodiversity conservation, and the implementation of the One Health approach, which connects animal, human, and environmental health. The results also provide an important basis for future monitoring activities and for strengthening cross-border cooperation between Italy and Slovenia in the protection of the Adriatic ecosystem.
Please find full report HERE.
