A fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), the second-largest animal on Earth, was recently spotted in the Gulf of Taranto, Italy. This sighting, documented by researchers from the Jonian Dolphin Conservation, underscores the Mediterranean Sea's vital role in cetacean conservation.
While not a frequent occurrence, fin whales are consistently present in the central Mediterranean. The LIFE Conceptu Maris project, dedicated to conserving cetaceans and sea turtles, has recorded over 4,150 cetacean observations, with 1,140 involving fin whales. This species is the only baleen whale regularly found in the Mediterranean, with significant concentrations in the Pelagos Sanctuary and the Ligurian Sea.
Marta Azzolin from the University of Turin notes that fin whales tend to move north during warmer months, often stopping in the central Tyrrhenian Sea. Sperm whales were also observed in the southern Adriatic Sea in late 2024, suggesting a potential recovery of the species in that area. The Ionian and southern Adriatic Seas are also home to bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), which together account for about half of the cetacean observations recorded by LIFE Conceptu Maris.