GAIA_ADRION_FLT Network-ANPA_2014-2018: Adriatic and Ionian Sea mega-fauna monitoring employing ferry as platform of observation along the Ancona-Igoumenitsa-Patras lane, from December 2014 to December 2018

Monitoring activity is part of the Fixed Line Transect Mediterranean Monitoring Network (FLT Med Net), led by ISPRA (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research). more GAIA_ADRION_FLT Network-ANPA_2014-2018 includes four years of effort (survey tracks) and sightings data of marine mammals, marine reptiles and marine birds collected from dedicated trained Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) on board of ferries.

Data were collected from MMOs placed on both sides of the command deck of ferries. MMOs data collection followed standard line transect protocol. Each observer covered an angle of 130° from the bow, while the back of the ship was checked randomly to avoid double counting of sightings.