A relatively little-known and rarely observed marine mammal that inhabits the Greek seas and has been systematically studied by the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation for the past 26 years.
It is the only large marine mammal in the Mediterranean that does not undertake seasonal migrations, but instead remains within the same broader marine area for almost its entire life, making the effective protection of its habitats all the more important.
Goose-beaked whales are among the least studied cetacean species worldwide and generally avoid interaction and close contact with humans. We have been systematically monitoring these particular whales in this region since 2000. It took many hundreds of hours of research and a discreet presence at sea before the animals became accustomed to us and no longer perceived our presence as a threat. Every approach is carried out with the utmost respect for their natural behaviour and under strict scientific protocols to avoid causing any disturbance.
They live in small pods in areas with steep underwater topography typically along submarine trenches. Our limited knowledge of these remarkable marine mammals is also due to the fact that, in search of food, Goose-beaked whales perform the deepest and longest dives ever recorded for any mammal – reaching recorded depths of almost 3,000 metres and dive durations of up to 3 hours and 42 minutes.
The greatest threat to Goose-beaked whales is underwater noise pollution caused by explosions, seismic surveys, and the use of powerful military sonars operating at specific frequencies.
Despite the ever-increasing destruction of marine and terrestrial ecosystems caused by human activities over recent decades, the fact that these magnificent marine mammals continue to inhabit our seas gives us hope. At the same time, it reminds us of the great responsibility we all share to ensure their survival. Their future is inseparably linked to the protection of the marine ecosystems on which they depend – and upon which our own survival ultimately depends.
