The ACCOBAMS 2020 “FINS” newsletter has been released.

Among the numerous articles, you will notably find a contribution from the “Proposal to develop and evaluate mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of ship strikes to Fin and Sperm Whales in the Pelagos Sanctuary” project leader financed by the Permanent Secretariat of the Pelagos Agreement, by mandate of the Parties to the Agreement.

Click here to consult the 2020 FINS newsletter.

In the framework of the European Week for Waste Reduction, the Pelagos, ACCOBAMS and RAMOGE Agreements wish to raise public awareness on the impact of marine litter on biodiversity and marine mammals in the Mediterranean in a common video, in French version. 

Let's act together against marine litter! 

21 years ago, the Pelagos Agreement on the creation of a Sanctuary for marine mammals in the Mediterranean was signed in Rome! 

Here is its new video to celebrate together: 

- in French version: 

- in Italian version: 

In the framework of the consultation for the assessment of the 2016-2022 Management Plan and the drafting of the 2022-2028 Management Plan of the Pelagos Agreement, each of us can give his own contribution.

To this end, please find below the surveys (in French and Italian version): 

• if you are a sea professional:
  French: https://forms.gle/uq9LNzJbg4Pvovz97 
  Italian: https://forms.gle/b4aSUh8f81fb3Xkk
  

• if you are a researcher:
  French:https://forms.gle/2B7CZqDgpH7YXsFu5
  Italian: https://forms.gle/igi2CGedugX33Za49

• if you represent an International Organization:
  French:https://forms.gle/p7js1Cy1VJQCXivw6
  Italian: https://forms.gle/5VZqqeyC6dXTo9aw5
  
  
• if you are a Marine Protected Area manager:
  French: https://forms.gle/BNb8F95XnWvFAECL6 
  Italian: https://forms.gle/KrAuD1kroKf7V5as8
  
  
• if you represent a municipality or territorial authority located in the area of the Sanctuary:
  French: https://forms.gle/u3MR2AwWttYmHu6R9 
  Italian: https://forms.gle/UgePUYFBTByQ2TQg9
  
  
• if you represent a Non-Governmental Organization:
  French: https://forms.gle/PKTfNa5jC6kUhJ6m9 
  Italian: https://forms.gle/EiEPgWWN4sP2EPLn6
  
  
• if you wish to contribute as a citizen:
  French: https://forms.gle/sdwRDhUhWMtAZpve7 
  Italian: https://forms.gle/rnrTxHzVsg5BeaGs5          

These questionnaires can be filled-in and modified until December 4^th, 2020. You are not obliged to respond to all the questions. 

The data gathered will be only accessible to the Consultant in charge of the mission.

Click pdf here to download the 2016-2022 Management Plan in French version and pdf here in its Italian version. 

Participate to the consultation! Your contribution is important for the future of the Sanctuary.

The 8^th National Focal Points meeting of the Pelagos Agreement was held on Wednesday, October 14^th, 2020, via videoconference.

The aim of this meeting was to select the Consultancy offer on the basis of which the assessment of the current Management Plan (2016-2022) and the next Management Plan (2022-2028) of the Pelagos Agreement will be drafted.

The selected Consultancy offer is the one submitted by Dr. Caterina Fortuna. 

The French National Committee of the Sanctuary was held on September 23^rd, 2020, in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (France, Maritim Alps) and in the presence of the Ministry of Ecological Transition representatives, the Permanent Secretariat of the Pelagos Agreement, numerous municipal authorities and stakeholders.

Click pdf here to download the French Part of the Pelagos Sanctuary's animation team press release, in french version. 

The next French National Committee of the Pelagos Sanctuary will be held on Wednesday, September 23^rd, 2020 in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (Maritime Alps).

The aim of this annual meeting is to present the ongoing and upcoming national and international activities, to draw up perspectives for the coming year, and to exchange with the different partners of the Sanctuary.

On Thursday August 28^th 2020, two individuals of Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have been observed by a certified Italian “High Quality Whale Watching^®” operator off the Genoa coast. This is an extraordinary event since the Humpback whale is not one of the regularly observed species in the Pelagos Sanctuary.

It is therefore recalled to respect the ACCOBAMS/Pelagos Code of good conduct, in order not to generate disturbances: https://www.sanctuaire-pelagos.org/en/raising-awareness/code-of-good-conduct

In 2021, ACCOBAMS will celebrate its 25th anniversary. For this occasion the ACCOBAMS Permanent Secretariat launches a contest for the design of an anniversary logo.

The deadline for submission of proposals is November 29th, 2020 (midnight at Monaco time). Click pdf here  to download the contest rules.

The Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Pelagos Agreement has been held on June 15^th, 2020 via videoconference. On this occasion, Mr. Maxime Trapani has been nominated in quality of Deputy Executive Secretary of the Pelagos Agreement and took office on July 1st 2020.

The Agreement’s authorities wish him every success in his work.