on a region-by-region basis. The First Mediterranean Region Important Marine Mammal Areas IMMA Workshop, held in Chania, Crete (Greece), 24th-28th October 2016, was organised by Tethys in cooperation with ACCOBAMS. Eight more regions have been assessed for the presence of IMMAs since 2017, encompassing the Indian Ocean, the South Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean and the Southwestern Atlantic, in addition to the Black and Caspian Seas. Public awareness and education actions A fundamental aspect of Tethys’ contribution to marine conservation is public awareness, achieved through the institute’s presence on social media and public television, articles, lectures, conferences, shows, and museum installations. Tethys has been involving thousands of people from across the world in its citizen science programmes through its long-term projects. CSR and IDP are among the world’s longest standing programmes of citizen science. Other communication initiatives were: ● “Digital Whales” (September 2019 - December 2020), an augmented-reality project at the Civic Aquarium of Milan, launched together with Verdeacqua, and funded by Fondazione Cariplo. During the Covid pandemic the exhibit was available online. ● “Cetacei Fai Attenzione” (“Be aware of cetaceans”, 2018 – 2020), a public awareness and citizen science project mainly sponsored by FAI Fondo Ambiente Italiano (Italian Fund for the Environment), with the collaboration of the Italian Coast Guard. Sightings of Mediterranean species were collected from owners of pleasure boats, whale watching platforms, and several organisations. Posters and leaflets presenting a code of conduct when approaching cetaceans were distributed. ● “Missione Pelagos”, an educational project centered around the Pelagos Sanctuary with a focus on its whales and dolphins, aimed at the dissemination of science and conservation among kids of elementary and middle schools. The use of the website is proposed to Italian municipalities that joined the Partnership Charter of the Pelagos Sanctuary. Missione Pelagos was supported by the Soroptimists Club of Italy. ● “Marine Ecomed” (MARINE Education and COmmunication network on the MEDiterranean (2018-2021), a project created through the support of the Erasmus+ EU Program, in collaboration with IUAV University of Venice, Aix Marseille University, University of Thessaloniki, Submon and iSea. The objective was to build an international strategic partnership to enhance research and education in the subject of sustainable marine management and communication strategies, within the Mediterranean unique natural and socio-economic context. The educational materials included a MOOC on Planning and management of marine and coastal areas and Ocean literacy, and a Handbook on Marine education and