Monaco Hosts Key Meeting on Pelagos Sanctuary Mediterranean Protection Status Renewal

Monaco recently served as the venue for the Technical Advisory Commission's meeting concerning the renewal of the Pelagos Sanctuary’s designation as a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI). The session, convened at the headquarters of the Pelagos Agreement, saw international experts and representatives from nations involved in the Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity (SPA/BD) protocol under the Barcelona Convention gather to evaluate the sanctuary's progress in marine conservation since its last review.

The commission's assessment, focusing on developments since 2019, is critical to the upcoming decision-making process. The outcomes of this review are set to be discussed further at the 17th meeting of SPA/BD focal points in May 2025, with a final verdict on the renewal of the SPAMI status expected at the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP24) to the Barcelona Convention, to be held in December 2025 in Egypt.

The Pelagos Sanctuary, established in 2001, holds the distinction of being the only international marine protected area in the Mediterranean dedicated solely to the conservation of marine mammals. This evaluation is part of a routine six-year renewal process that highlights the sanctuary’s pivotal role in preserving the Mediterranean’s marine biodiversity, emphasizing a continued commitment to environmental stewardship among the region’s nations.