Conservation research on cetaceans has started around and south of the Maltese Islands in 1997 by Dr. Adriana Vella, Ph.D. of the Department of Biology, University of Malta. The methods used in this ongoing effort include both aerial and boat surveys, carried out all year round. The most frequently encountered species to date include, Tursiops truncatus, Dephinus delphis, Grampus griseus, Stennella coeruleoalba, Physeter catodon. As photo-id work is also being integrated in this research the differences between resident and migratory groups are also being analysed - a valuable contribution to Mediterranean cetacean research due to Malta's central position.

With the onset of this scientific research local awareness for incrementing accurate knowledge regarding cetaceans and their habitat has increased. An official national stranding protocol was issued in March 1999 allowing the Environment Protection Department to work with Dr. Vella, local NGOs, and local vets so as to coordinate the information extracted from each stranding.

While collaborating with CIESM in reporting cetacean sightings, Dr. Vella has also set-up a local NGO (Biological Conservation Research Foundationa - BICREF) to garner volonteer assistance to conservation research, managment and awareness of local and vulnerable species and their habitats.

Dr. Vella's cetacean research project is also looking into the increased detrimental effects of overfishing and increased potential of cetacean by-catch during specific fishing activities in this central region of the Mediterranean.

In particular blue fin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) fishing during the months of May to July has not only been noted to increase in effort through the larger number of fishing vessels in this region but it has also been noted to become extremely efficient in the use of large purse-seine fishing vessels equipped with the latest technologies and assisted with spotter planes in their search. The Japanese request for blue fin tuna has also encouraged various mediterranean countries to start in yet another exploitative endeavear, i.e. tuna penning (catching wild tuna and keeping them in large nets alive until ready to be killed). It is obvious that the penning activity requirements of wild tuna is further increasing the stress on the bluefin tuna stocks in this region during their reproductive season.

Since cetaceans and in particular dolphins, have often been found to associate with the blue fin tuna in their migrations, it is expected that due to the increased tuna fishing by indiscriminiate fishing techniques there will certainly be an increase in the deaths of local and migrating cetacean populations.

With this in mind, Dr. Vella has cautioned and urged local authorities to assess carefully any decision that would allow the start of tuna penning activities that would:
1) increase by-catch deaths of endangered species during the purse-seine fishing in international waters South to South West of the Maltese Islands,
2) increase disturbance in our local coastal habitats due to the large tuna pens located two kilometers away from the shore, in areas frequented particularly by Tursiops truncatus groups.

Unfortunately, the first tuna penning project has recently been given permission to commense and is already operational just off St.Paul's Bay, NW of Malta.. It appears that many other businessmen are already planning to go into tuna penning locally, motivated by the highly priced bluefin tuna on the Japanese market. This will seriously pose risks for cetacean and other marine organisms' conservation.