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The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) aims to protect the marine environment and marine biodiversity across Europe more effectively. In the present study, the predicted distribution of striped dolphins of the Gulf of Corinth (Greece) is investigated for the first two periods of the MSFD (I: 2007-2012; II: 2013-2018). For the first time, anthropogenic variables are included in the striped dolphin distribution analysis, resulting from accounting for most of the variability. The results show that the predicted distribution is similar for both investigated periods. However, a small reduction of suitable areas in the Northern portion of the Gulf is observable for the second one, probably due to the expansion of fish farm activity in this zone. The MSFD and its consequent management actions didn’t appear to improve the protection of striped dolphins in the investigated area. Their review will be essential to assess which further management actions will be necessary to program to protect and conserve striped dolphins in the Natura 2000 area “Gulf of Corinth”. The present study shows that human activities are important for explaining stripe dolphins distribution and that their further development needs to be carefully taken into account while managing spatial planning.

To date, the principal assessment for the Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) distribution in the Mediterranean Basin is given by beaches nests along the coasts. The Eastern Mediterranean Sea has been revealed an important foraging area for this protected species but temporal trends of its spatial distribution and anthropogenic threats are lacking. This study shows that the employment of ferry as platform of observation would represent a valid tool for monitoring Loggerhead sea turtle in remote marine area, and to pinpoint important areas for the conservation and assessment of the species. The results of the present study confirm the previous hypothesis of the areas selected by the species, which are neritic areas in the northern/middle Adriatic Sea and oceanic areas in the Ionian Sea.

The relationship between a species and its habitat is complex but it is essential to study the distribution and habitat use of a protected species in order to identify regions where human activities and disturbances are likely to impact its population. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive informs that studies focusing on spatial and temporal species distribution and ecosystem variations (including links between habitats and species of marine mammals) are recommended to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) of the EU’s marine water by 2020. However, the current level of information on the spatial-temporal distribution of marine mammals is often lacking. The striped dolphin is the most abundant cetacean of the Mediterranean Sea; nevertheless its Mediterranean population is listed as "vulnerable" by IUCN experts. In order to investigate the spatial distribution of striped dolphin within the Adriatic-Ionian Region, a cooperative project among different research groups was set up and a multi-source data approach was employed. Presence data collected during monitoring activity carried out from 2008 to 2018 were analysed by means of Maxent. Main topographic variables as bathymetry, slope and distance from coastline were considered and five distribution models were performed to highlight suitable areas for striped dolphin within the entire study area. Models are presented and discussed. The results of this study show that to investigate the distribution of a species at a regional scale it is necessary to monitor area with different environmental characteristics. In this regards, cooperative regional projects represent an opportunity for pooling together data that taken singularly would not necessarily reflect the distribution of species at a larger scale, but that analysed together would allow to acquire information on suitable habitats at a regional level.