#OceanAction21296
Awareness campaigns on the marine mammals in the Pelagos Santuary
by Pelagos Agreement on the creation of a marine mammals Sanctuary in the Mediterranean Sea (Intergovernmental organization)
The Pelagos Agreement promotes two majors kinds of commitments to raise public awareness:
1. The Partnership Charter with littoral municipalities of the Pelagos Sanctuary.
Municipalities whose territory is located in the Pelagos Sanctuary could join a Partnership Charter. By signing the Pelagos Charter, municipalities commit themselves at least for 2 years to:
taking a political decision to protect marine mammals;
training their staff, organize public awareness campaigns on marine mammals and communicate on the actions of the Pelagos Agreement;
relaying the information in case of strandings of marine mammals on their territory.
2. The "High Quality Whale-Watching" trademark (ACCOBAMS property developed with the Pelagos Agreement) dedicated to the whale watching operators. To encourage operators to subscribe the trademark, Permanent Secretariat of the Pelagos Agreement promotes the trademark by organizing events (the last conference took place the 3rd May 2017 at the Yacht Club of Monaco).
To obtain the High Quality Whale-Watching trademark, whale watching operators have to comply with the following rules:
Trips shall have a naturalist approach and commit to the Code of Good Conduct implemented by the Pelagos Sanctuary and the ACCOBAMS Agreement. Swim-with-cetaceans and feeding cetaceans activities are banned from the certification and aerial detection assistance is also excluded in France;
There shall always be a crew member on-board that has attended a 3-day dedicated training course. Each manager must have followed the training courses as well;
Provision of waste sorting bins shall be implemented and no disposable crockery shall be provided on-board;
Operators shall provide their observations to scientific bodies. The free REPCET smartphone application enables them to take part in a large-scale ship strike reduction programme;
Operators shall be evaluated at least once every three years by a Committee. In addition, evaluation sheets are given to passengers who are invited to send them back to the organisation in charge of managing the certification.
1. The Partnership Charter with littoral municipalities of the Pelagos Sanctuary.
Municipalities whose territory is located in the Pelagos Sanctuary could join a Partnership Charter. By signing the Pelagos Charter, municipalities commit themselves at least for 2 years to:
taking a political decision to protect marine mammals;
training their staff, organize public awareness campaigns on marine mammals and communicate on the actions of the Pelagos Agreement;
relaying the information in case of strandings of marine mammals on their territory.
2. The "High Quality Whale-Watching" trademark (ACCOBAMS property developed with the Pelagos Agreement) dedicated to the whale watching operators. To encourage operators to subscribe the trademark, Permanent Secretariat of the Pelagos Agreement promotes the trademark by organizing events (the last conference took place the 3rd May 2017 at the Yacht Club of Monaco).
To obtain the High Quality Whale-Watching trademark, whale watching operators have to comply with the following rules:
Trips shall have a naturalist approach and commit to the Code of Good Conduct implemented by the Pelagos Sanctuary and the ACCOBAMS Agreement. Swim-with-cetaceans and feeding cetaceans activities are banned from the certification and aerial detection assistance is also excluded in France;
There shall always be a crew member on-board that has attended a 3-day dedicated training course. Each manager must have followed the training courses as well;
Provision of waste sorting bins shall be implemented and no disposable crockery shall be provided on-board;
Operators shall provide their observations to scientific bodies. The free REPCET smartphone application enables them to take part in a large-scale ship strike reduction programme;
Operators shall be evaluated at least once every three years by a Committee. In addition, evaluation sheets are given to passengers who are invited to send them back to the organisation in charge of managing the certification.
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
Type of commitment
OTHER POLLUTANTS (please specify)
- Other (please specify): Land-based marine litters, chemical and biological pollution
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
Type of commitment
- Integrated Coastal Management
- Large Marine Ecosystem approach
- Other (please specify): Reduce the risk of cetaceans harassment caused by whale watching activities
14.5
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
Type of commitment
- MPA management and/or enforcement
- Other (please specify): SPAMI
12/2022
Subscription of the Pelagos Charter for municipalities
12/2022
Promotion of the High quality whale watching trademark
Financing (in USD)
13,500 USD
Staff / Technical expertise
Four persons.
#OceanAction21296
Basic information
Time-frame: 09/2010 - 12/2022
Partners
ACCOBAMS (IGO), Italian and French Municipalities (Local administrations), Souffleurs dEcume (NGO), AMPN (NGO), Oceanomare Delphis Onlus (NGO), National Parc of Port-Cros (Local administration), Italian Ministry in charge of the Environment (Gouvernement).
Ocean Basins
- North Atlantic
Beneficiary countries
Other beneficaries
Contact information
Fannie Dubois, Executive Secretary, secretariat@pelagos-sanctuary.org, +377 92 16 11 55
Principality of Monaco
Principality of Monaco
Other SDGs