Marie Petitguyot, Andrea Fariñas-Bermejo, Andrew Brownlow, Markus Ahola, Elena Álvarez Neches, Manuel Arbelo, Matthieu Authier, Ramón Balsera Riesgo, Simon Berrow, Arne Bjørge, Jens Brackmann, Sophie Brasseur, Gilberto P. Carreira, Linnea Cervin, Cristina Claver, Pablo Covelo, José Luís Crespo-Picazo, Willy Dabin, Michael Dähne, Nicholas J. Davison, Rob Deaville, Mariel ten Doeschate, Mariano Domingo Álvarez, Fernando Cánovas, Peter G. H. Evans, Manena Fayos Martínez, Antonio Fernández, Ruth Fernández, Carolina Fernández, Luís Freitas, Anders Galatius, Álvaro García de los Ríos, Lucia Garrido Sánchez, Machteld I M Geut, Anita Gilles, Patricia Gozalbes Aparicio, Miguel L. Grilo, J. Haelters, Sverrir Daníel Halldórsson, Thea Hamm, Jarco Havermans, Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, David Jacinto, Mart Jüssi, Pepijn Kamminga, Tim Kåre Jensen, Ailbhe S. Kavanagh, G.O. Keijl, M.F. Leopold, Alfredo López, Ana Marçalo, N. Marques, José Antonio Martínez Cedeira, Bjarni Mikkelsen, Joana Miodonski, Juana Maria Monasterio Iglesias, Jose Eugenio Montes Gómez, Aleksija Neimanis, Francisco Neves, Sofia I Pardal, Iwona Pawliczka, Ignacio Peña Pascucci, Heidi Huus Petersen, Maris Plikshs, Raquel Puig‐Lozano, Juan Antonio Raga, Joana I. Robalo, Anna Roos, Leire Ruiz Sancho, Camilo Saavedra, Guðjón Már Sigurðsson, Susana Simião, Antònia Solomando Martí, Jasmine Stavenow, Ole Stejskal, Vaida Survilienė, Charlotte Bie Thøstesen, Jaap van der Hiele, Jesús Varas, Hans Verdaat, Dylan Verheul, Gísli A. Víkingsson, Juanjo Villalón, Rosie S. Williams, Johnny Woodlock, Graham J. Pierce
Abstract The study of stranded animals is a valuable aid to monitoring marine mammals globally. However, the utility of strandings data depends on their quality and representativeness, which is affected by various biological, physical, social and economic factors. An analysis of how stranding networks work could help understand limitations in the data collected and facilitate correcting for or even eliminating them. In 2021, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea’s Working Group on Marine Mammal Ecology carried out an expert consultation using a questionnaire to provide insight into the contribution of European stranding networks as a monitoring tool in European countries with Northeast Atlantic and adjacent coasts (hence also including some networks operating along the Mediterranean coast). A key aim was to identify ways to improve data on mortality of marine mammals due to fishery bycatch. The present paper is the first of a two-part series based on the responses to the questionnaire by 45 organisations from 19 countries, and focuses on characterising the activities and capacities of the stranding networks surveyed, identifying differences within and between countries, highlighting strengths and weaknesses, and providing recommendations to enhance the value and credibility of the information collected. The second paper will focus on the information specifically related to mortality due to fishery bycatch. Stranding networks provide extensive spatio-temporal coverage of European coastlines, but their activities may be constrained by limited resources as well as limitations imposed by the stranding process. There is a need for better coordination and standardisation of the collection and analysis of data and samples and increased spatial coverage to fill gaps. To improve data quality, in particular to support assessment of impacts of threats such as bycatch, more necropsies and associated sample analysis are needed. It would also be advantageous to collect more information from less fresh animals, record search effort, and give greater attention to pinnipeds and non-marine mammal taxa. We also highlight the need to make information available and the potential value of a common database. Streamlining the reporting of results at the European level and providing systematic funding to stranding networks in accordance with their needs are necessary steps to optimise their role as a tool for the long-term monitoring of marine mammals and other marine megafauna in Europe.