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FRANCE
MONACO 37 /

PELAGOS From 1980 to 1995 On November 25 , 1999 On February 21 , 2002 2017
th
st
SANCTUARY ITALY After recording many France, Italy and the Monaco The Agreement came into The Agreement celebrated
th
Giens accidental captures of signed, in Rome, the Agreement effect after ratification its 15 anniversary and
dolphins in fish-nets,
strengthened its governance
for the Creation of a Mediterranean
by the three signatory
peninsula
legal measures for marine Sanctuary for Marine Mammals and countries. with the signature of the
mammals’ protection are adopted a ministerial declaration. Headquarters Agreement
taken by Italian, French and The Agreement was registered in between the Monaco
Fosso
CORSICA Chiarone Monegasque authorities. Monaco. government and the Permanent
Secretariat on April 3 , 2017
rd
during Monaco Ocean Week.
TYRRHENIAN SEA
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
Capo Ferro
Capo Falcone
SARDINIA

INCREASED

INDEPENDENCE

AND EQUITY

Greater independence for the Permanent Secre-
tariat will facilitate closer collaboration with the
Secretariats of other intergovernmental organisa- From left to right, Xavier STICKER, Ambassador of France for the Environment, Ségolène ROYAL, French Minister for Environment, Energy and
tions based in Monaco (RAMOGE, ACCOBAMS, the Sea, Responsible for International Climate Relations, Gilles TONELLI, Government Advisor, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of
etc.) to enable the countries involved to optimize Monaco, Fanny DUBOIS, executive Secretary of the Pelagos Agreement.
efforts to strengthen protection for the Sanctua-
ry’s marine mammals.
Why is a sanctuary necessary in the Mediterranean?
In the interest of equity, the Scientific Committee’s
presidency is no longer reserved for Monaco and
now rotates among the countries; the current The Pelagos Agreement aims to protect all marine mammals and their
president is from Italy. The Permanent Secreta-
riat’s team, formerly comprised of French citizens, habitats in this part of the northwestern Mediterranean by preserving them
is now open to those of the whole European from the negative impacts of human activity.
Union.
Many scientific studies have been carried out in the Sanctuary since the
The launch of three bids for international projects signature of the Agreement on 25 November 1999 in Rome, yielding a
this coming summer to address key Sanctua-
ry issues is evidence of the effectiveness of this better understanding of marine mammal populations and the dangers to
new governance. These issues are: onshore which they are exposed. This has enabled effective conservation measures
plastic and chemical pollution, maritime pollution
from plastic and lost fishing nets, and collisions to be implemented while building awareness among marine actors. Since
between ships and large cetaceans, the lat- the Sanctuary was created, accidental captures are no longer a threat to
ter being the main cause of unnatural cetacean
deaths in the northwestern Mediterranean. dolphins in this zone.