In the framework of the Pelagos Partnership Charter, the Municipality of Varazze (Province de Savona) organizes, in collaboration with the association "Menkab: il respiro del mare", three valuable initiatives in favor of the protection of marine mammals in the Pelagos Sanctuary. Here below you will find the presentations of the events (in the Italian version).

Pelagos Agreement’s Parties and  Permanent Secretariat are monitoring  a tailless Fin whale specimen (Balaenoptera physalus). Since June 11^th, the cetacean has moved from the coast of Calabria, in Southern Italy, towards the Northern Mediterranean, quickly reaching the waters of the Pelagos Sanctuary, along the Tuscan and Ligurian coasts. Yesterday, the fin whale was observed in the French waters of the Sanctuary, close to the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat shores, in the Department Maritime Alps.

This cetacean, long known to scientists and experts operating in the Pelagos Sanctuary, appears thin and presents several parasites. The complete loss of the caudal fin appears to have been caused by a ship strike or a net entanglement, happened last autumn. It is able to move, feed and dive with difficulty. 

Its presence in the waters of the Sanctuary is widely reported in the media and social networks, which could increase the risk of exposure to sources of disturbance. The Permanent Secretariat of the Pelagos Agreement calls on boaters not to approach the Fin whale.

In case of need and/or emergency, please contact the competent authorities at the following coordinates:

 Italy

Ligurian maritime Direction
Operational department
Email: giuseppe.bonelli@mit.gov.it

Genova Harbour Authority
Tel: +39 (0)1 02 77 73 85
Email: so.cpgenova@mit.gov.it

Savona Harbour Authority
Tel: +39 (0)19 80 64 76 221
Email: so.cpsavona@mit.gov.it

Imperia Harbour Authority
Tel: +39 (0)1 83 66 06 220
Email: so.cpimperia@mit.gov.it

La Spezia Harbour Authority
Tel: +39 (0)1 87 25 81 222
Email: so.cplaspezia@mit.gov.it 
 

Principality of Monaco

Maritime Police Division
Tel: +377 93 15 30 16
Email: dpma@gouv.mc

Maritime Affairs Division
Tel: +377 98 98 22 80
Email: marine@gouv.mc

Environment Division
Tel: +377 98 98 83 41
Email: environnement@gouv.mc 

 France
On-call State action at Sea
Tel: +33 (0)6 82 56 10 96
Email: crise.aem@premar-mediterranee.gouv.fr
 

Italian stranding network
Tel: +39 36 69 25 66 38
Email: sandro.mazzariol@unipd.it

French stranding network
Tel : +33 (0)6 08 73 02 92
Email : dhermain.frank@orange.fr

Fluker sighting off the coast of Savona, in the Italian waters of the Sanctuary, June 23rd 2020

 Fluker sighting close to the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat shores, in the French waters of the Sanctuary, June 25th 2020

The Newsletter no.17 of the French Party of the Pelagos Agreement is online. To download the French version of the 2020 Newsletter, please pdf click here .

Happy reading!

On the occasion of the World Oceans Day on June 8th, 2020, Ms. Costanza Favilli, Executive Secretary of the Pelagos Agreement, has been invited by WWF Italy to speak on the theme of the importance of the Pelagos Sanctuary, in a series of videoconferences entitled “AperiPelagos: curiosities on cetaceans in the Mare Nostrum”, broadcasted on WWF Italy’s social networks.

The Executive Secretary launched this series introducing the Pelagos Agreement, its origins, its Bodies and its scientific activities.

Click 

In the framework of its awareness-raising activities, the RAMOGE Agreement launched its international photography contest entitled “RAMOGE – Mankind and the Sea” on the occasion of the World Oceans Day, Monday June 8^th, 2020.

The contest will run until September 15^th 2020, under the auspices of the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP). An internationally renowned jury, composed of Greg Lecoeur (“Nature photographer of the Year” – National Geographic, 2016), Sergio Pitamitz (“Environmental photojournalist of the Year” – NPPA, 2016) and Pierluigi Rizzato (8-times winner of the FIAP Nature World Cup), will judge the participants’ pictures under 4 categories, 3 for adults (Free theme, Mankind and the Sea, RAMOGE Area) and 1 for youth (under 21 years old).

 For more information: www.ramoge.org/ConcoursPhoto

On occasion of the International Biodiversity Day on May 22nd, 2020, the Regional Activity Center for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA), the Pelagos Agreement’s partner, proposes to take a quiz on vulnerable species in the Mediterranean.  

Test your knowledge by clicking on the following link: https://qz.app.do/what-species-is-that-en

Respecting the Code of good conduct for cetaceans sighting ensures that this activity does not constitute a source of disturbance for marine mammals. Each of us can contribute to marine mammal protection in the waters of the Pelagos Sanctuary!

Due to the current health crisis, registration to the “Stop strikes” contest will remain open until November 30^th, 2020.

This contest, organized by the French animation team of the Pelagos Agreement, in partnership with the WWF, Souffleurs d’Ecume and the GIS3M, invites youth to present initiatives designed to reduce the risk of ship strikes in the Pelagos Sanctuary.

Click pdf here  to download the participation modalities in the French version. 

For more information, click on the following link: http://initiatives-pelagos.fr

With the end of the lockdown and the progressive restarting of sea activities, the Permanent Secretariat of the Pelagos Agreement wishes to remind seafarers of the importance to respect the Code of good conduct for cetaceans sighting, in order to protect marine mammals from disturbances.

Let’s make sure that this activity does not constitute a source of disturbance for species. Each of us can contribute to marine mammal protection in the waters of the Pelagos Sanctuary!

For more information, click here.

If you with to convey the values promoted by the Agreement for the protection of cetaceans in the Sanctuary, become a Pelagos Ambassador by clicking here.

Due to the current health situation and measures adopted by governments to combat the spread of Coronavirus - COVID-19, the conference "From land to cetaceans, a waste’s route" scheduled in Monaco on Friday, March 20th 2020 at 6.30 pm is cancelled and postponed to a later date.