Researchers claimed the journey of a young whale traversing the Mediterranean Sea had shed light on the threats confronting oceanic creatures.

Conducted by Greenpeace scientists alongside experts from the universities of Exeter and Haifa, the study focused on whales and dolphins in the Eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Israel.

Encounters with Cuvier's beaked whales, bottlenose dolphins, and sperm whales, including a young adult male previously spotted off southern France, showed the diversity of marine life in the region.

But the movement of a sperm whale marked the furthest recorded journey within the Mediterranean, encountering hazards posed by human activities in the area.

Audio analysis revealed that the vocalizations of whales off the Israeli coast matched the 'Mediterranean dialect,' indicating their integration into the wider regional population.

Dr Kirsten Thompson, from the Greenpeace research laboratories at the University of Exeter, said there is an urgent need for targeted protection measures at key locations.

She said: 'The Mediterranean poses numerous threats to marine life, from fishing and pollution to noise and boat strikes.'

The researchers said the findings underscore the critical importance of safeguarding vulnerable species due to increasing industrial activities 'with plans for oil and gas exploration and the construction of new infrastructure in the region'.

Dr Thompson said there is potential for technological solutions, such as installing listening devices in narrow straits to create an alert system and mitigate the risk of ship strikes.

The study, funded by Greenpeace International, is said to reprsesnt a step towards understanding and protecting marine life in the Eastern Mediterranean.