PACOMM – SAMM Arial Campaign (Arial Marine Megafauna Monitoring) – Mainland France – 2011/2014

Flights over France’s metropolitan waters and border areas to observe seabirds, marine mammals, other species of megafauna in open water and human activity (floating waste), with the aim of producing an inventory of spatial distribution and species abundance, and to evaluate spatial and temporal variability. This part, complemented by other work in the PACOMM programme, provides information which is collated and used for designating and managing protected marine areas to meet requirements for community conservation and promotion of marine areas (Natura 2000, MSFD, local and regional maritime conventions, etc.).