Human‐caused injuries can have severe consequences for cetaceans, both for the well‐being of individuals and the effects at the population level. Here, we report the first case of a live fin whale in the Mediterranean Sea with completely amputated flukes, a female who suffered two separated incidents: the first one before 1996, when she lost her left lobe, and the second one, in 2019, leading to the severing of the whole tail and finally to presumed death. “Codamozza‐Fluker” was regularly sighted during summer in the North‐Western Mediterranean for 24 years. Entanglement and collision were both hypothesized as potential causes of her injuries. Without flukes, she traveled at least 7000 km across the Mediterranean, despite severe emaciation. Sighting records allowed tracking her from September 2019 to July 2020, providing rare evidence of large‐scale movements within the Mediterranean over almost a year. Her journey, which extended as far as Syria, provides the first evidence of a fin whale from the Ligurian Sea being resighted in the Eastern Basin. This introduces a new perspective on this endangered subpopulation's movement patterns, which are crucial for effective conservation measures. The case gained widespread media attention, representing a dramatic example of usually unnoticed injuries or deaths, and contributed to raising public awareness, essential for driving focused conservation efforts. Her latest accident most likely occurred within the Pelagos Sanctuary for marine mammals, highlighting the need for more effective local protection measures, and underscoring the importance of complementing area‐based conservation efforts with an ecosystem‐based approach.

This brief report is the first comparative study of a photo-identification catalogue of the Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) in the Western Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea). The positive match of two photo-identified individuals observed in two neighbouring areas in different and non-consecutive years represents the first record of Risso’s dolphin re-sightings across two Ionian sub-regions. This suggests potential inter-regional connectivity for the species, as reported in other sub-regions of the Mediterranean basin. Further, this supports the hypothesis that Risso’s dolphins use a large home range with seasonally different critical habitats, as suggested in previous studies carried out in the Western Ionian Sea.

The Gulf of Squillace, in the Calabrian Ionian Sea, where we have been conducting scientific research and marine monitoring since 2019, has proven to be an important area for pelagic animals, including seabirds and sea turtles. Among these, the presence of cetaceans such as bottlenose dolphins, Risso's dolphins, and striped dolphins is regular, while other species are less frequent visitors. Over the years of monitoring, it has become clear that multiple factors contribute to the degradation of the coastal marine environment, particularly the presence of marine debris. Floating dangerous debris for cetaceans (DDFC) emerge as one of the main anthropogenic threats to the conservation of marine ecosystems and pelagic megafauna. During autumn and winter, marine litter predominantly originates from extreme weather events and riverine inputs. In contrast, during spring and summer, most debris is generated by maritime activities such as fishing, recreational boating, and coastal tourism. A monitoring survey conducted in 2024 and 2025, covering about 1,400 km, analyzed the distribution of floating macro-debris and cetaceans. Data collection was performed via visual surveys from inflatable boats, recording debris type and the presence of marine species. Results indicate a predominance of synthetic polymers, followed by fishing gear, wood, and metals. This study quantifies the potential risk of interaction by analyzing the spatial overlap between cetaceans' sightings tracks and floating dangerous debris for cetaceans. The primary objective is to identify high-risk areas to support evidence-based conservation strategies and mitigate programs, such as source prevention and debris removal. The presence of multiple cetacean species underscores the ecological importance of this region, which includes the SAC “Fondali di Stalettì” and the Marine Park “Baia di Soverato,” further justifying the need for targeted management recommendations.