Hope spots are marine areas that are scientifically identified by Mission Blue as valuable and significant in terms of biodiversity, ecosystem health and the need for protection. The Vilanova i la Geltrú hope spot encompasses a strip of coastal waters 12 to 15 miles wide (1,944 km²) on the Catalan coast southwest of Barcelona, a region in the Mediterranean lacking regulations to protect biodiversity.

This designation as a hope spot is the result of the expertise of the UPC’s Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics (LAB), based on the Vilanova i la Geltrú Campus, in developing technological solutions to protect the biodiversity of this unique environment and providing tools that allow human activities to coexist with the natural surroundings.

Professor Michel André, director of the LAB and founder and president of the Sense of Silence Foundation, and Marisa Zaragozá, director of the Vilanova i la Geltrú School of Engineering (EPSEVG), have been recognised as hope spot champions. As a result of this designation, the LAB, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, will launch a project deploying non-invasive technology (bioacoustic systems, imaging and environmental DNA sampling) to observe and map marine biodiversity in the area. This hope spot will also be the first in the entire Mission Blue network to use cutting-edge technology such as bioacoustics.

Recent acoustic studies by the EDMAKTUB Association in Vilanova i la Geltrú’s coastal waters suggest that this critical yet understudied area may be an important feeding ground for fin
whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the Mediterranean. The fin whale, which can reach up to 24 metres in length, is the only whale species to regularly inhabit the Mediterranean Sea. According to previous studies, fishers had reported sightings in the area for decades, but their presence had not been confirmed by the scientific community.

Oceanographer and marine biologist Sylvia A. Earle, a UPC honorary doctoral degree holderand founder of Mission Blue, a non-profit organisation focused on international marine conservation, stated: “Hope spot champions Michel André and Marisa Zaragozá are working together on a pioneering research project using cutting-edge technology, combining bioacoustics, imaging and eDNA, to study the presence of fin whales in these feeding grounds, as well as the greater biodiversity found off the Catalan coast.”

Earle added that “Combining state-of-the-art technological innovation with modern methods will provide a wealth of complementary biodiversity information and unique details unobtainable by individual monitoring systems. This will revolutionise how the area ecosystems are sampled, mapped and understood. We look forward to seeing the data and information from this project used to help inform marine spatial planning decisions for this hope spot, not only for fin whales, but for all marine life that call this place home.”

LAB director and hope spot champion Michel André explained: “As in many parts of the ocean, there is an urgent need to develop ways for humans to coexist with nature and adapt our activities to respect marine life. Being part of the Mission Blue network reinforces this goal along the Catalan coast, helping us understand the challenges that fin whales and other marine species face in a changing world. This connection also reinforces our responsibility to find technological solutions to protect this unique environment, which can be exported to other hope spots.”

Strengthening marine conservation
The primary objective of the Vilanova i la Geltrú hope spot is to create a holistic understanding of the area’s biodiversity. Hope spot champions and their partners plan to deploy autonomous
sampling platforms using a range of non-invasive methods to observe and map marine biodiversity in the area. The initial focus of this study will be seven species in the fin whale feeding grounds that are impacted by numerous anthropogenic stressors.

“For the past two decades, the UPC’s Vilanova i la Geltrú Campus has dedicated significant efforts to developing marine technologies that respect wildlife, aligning with our commitment to educate students who can drive change through awareness. The recognition from Mission Blue comes at a pivotal time, confirming that we are on the right path to achieving these goals together,” says Marisa Zaragoza, director of the EPSEVG on the Vilanova i la Geltrú Campus and a hope spot champion.

The scientific methods used in the project will provide valuable biodiversity indicators in line with the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive, aiding EU-wide harmonisation of
management strategies to improve biodiversity governance. The project, which highlights sound as a key element in connecting ecosystems and strengthening marine conservation, also promotes citizen participation and awareness.

The challenge represented by this hope spot is that of finding the balance to allow human activities to coexist with the natural environment without causing irreversible biodiversity decline. The Vilanova i la Geltrú hope spot’s location near Barcelona, Spain’s largest coastal city, means the waters are impacted by heavy ship traffic and underwater noise pollution. The regular presence of fin whales feeding near the water’s surface poses a risk of ship strikes, threatening the population in these essential feeding grounds.

Sounds of hope
The use of sound is a non-invasive research tool used to better understand the marine environment. Sound is a sense shared by all marine life, from plants to great whales and fish, and one humans share as well. Underwater sound can serve as an acoustic ribbon, binding hope spots across the globe.

The recognition of the Vilanova i la Geltrú hope spot marks the official launch of the “Sounds of Hope” campaign, which aims to raise awareness and foster collaboration among existing hope spots. By highlighting the power of sound, this initiative will create an invisible yet resonant acoustic network connecting hope spots worldwide to protect marine ecosystems.

20 years of the UPC’s LAB
For the past 20 years, the UPC’s Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics (LAB) has developed pioneering technology for acoustic monitoring of biodiversity in both aquatic and terrestrial
natural environments. Through a multidisciplinary approach that combines mathematical and physical sciences with biology and engineering, the LAB has created innovative solutions to conserve fragile habitats and mitigate the impact of human activities on the ocean. One of its achievements is the development of an internationally awarded whale collision avoidance system. The LAB has also played a key role in coordinating over 30 European—and some other national and international—bioacoustics research projects, establishing itself as an international benchmark in this field.