Biodiversity and Cetacean Research: The Bottlenose Dolphin and Photoidentification in the Waters of Ostia

This study presents the findings of a photo-identification project on bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus) along the Lazio coast, conducted by the Sotto al Mare Association between 2019 and 2021. Using artificial intelligence tools (finFindR), morphometric metrics, and GIS mapping, over 400 individual dolphins were identified, with a focus on dorsal fin lesions as indicators of ecological health. The data reveal a stable subpopulation with strong site fidelity, highlighting the high ecological value of the Roman coastal area and the urgent need for adaptive conservation strategies based on long-term, technology-driven monitoring aligned with regional and EU environmental policies.