Background The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a Mediterranean cetacean listed as “vulnerable” in IUCN Red List. It is estimated that 200-300 individuals live in the project area. As a coastal species, bottlenose dolphins are the most threatened by habitat degradation and loss. The main threats come from coastal urbanisation, port construction, boat traffic, shipping, pollution by industrial and agriculture activities, overfishing and overexploitation. The Ligurian Sea and the Portofino coastal area are subject to intensive boat traffic, especially during the summer season, which significantly increases underwater noise pollution. This kind of impact represents a serious threat for cetaceans as they communicate and orient by underwater sonar-waves. Moreover, human interaction with bottlenose dolphins has to be regulated during the summer season when newborns and calves are present with adult individuals. In the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Portofino protection measures have not been carried out in the absence of impact assessments and monitoring. Objectives The main objective of the project is the improvement of the conservation status of the bottlenose dolphin in the MPA of Portofino. To this end, an acoustic monitoring system will be set-up to detect and track the species. A network of hydrophones, communicating with an on-shore computer centre, will be installed on the buoys of the Portofino MPA to identify and follow dolphins in real time. Human activities and underwater noise will be recorded as well. Expected results: Maximum reduction of the amount of disturbance of dolphins by ships and boats – collected data will be directly communicated to the vessel traffic services of Genoa and to the coastguard; The monitoring method proposed by the project will constitute the first long-term database on habitat use by the bottlenose dolphin and underwater noise pollution in the Portofino MPA. The database will include information on dolphin vocalisations; different underwater noises (engines, trawling and purse seine); presence/absence of the species; and temporal and spatial correlation with human activities. The database will be easily consulted for both management and conservation policies, scientific projects and public dissemination; If the data show a regular presence of bottlenose dolphins outside the MPA boundaries these will be reshaped. An action plan will be prepared for the Portofino MPA and the surrounding marine area that will address all the threats to the species (such as boating, sailing and tourism); Public awareness of the threats affecting the species and of its need for protection will be raised and tourists will be made aware of the presence of the dolphin. The appropriate code of conduct will be disseminated among tourists on the Ligurian coast; and A demonstration of the effectiveness of the proposed tool will be immediately applicable to different areas within the International Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Mammals 'PELAGOS'.