The Pelagos Sanctuary Protecting Whales & Monk Seals is Receiving Donations

The first contributions to the Pelagos Voluntary Fund… half a million euros already… are targeted to improve conservation measures in the only international area dedicated to marine mammals in the Mediterranean. 

It is indeed an area characterized by extraordinary biodiversity, in which eight species of cetaceans (whales etc. ) are regularly observed and the monk seal can also be seen on rare occasions. 

You can contribute to the conservation of the marine biodiversity of the Pelagos Sanctuary! Don’t wait… see the links below to contribute. 

The Pelagos Agreement for the creation of a Sanctuary for the protection of marine mammals in the Mediterranean entered into force in 2002. The Pelagos Sanctuary is the only international transboundary area dedicated to the protection of marine mammals in the Mediterranean Sea. It is indeed an area characterized by extraordinary biodiversity, with varieties of whales and monk seals. The Agreement was created with the aim of improving the conservation of the marine environment by assessing and managing the impact of humans on the species and habitat of marine mammals. The Sanctuary is also recognized as an area of cultural, educational and socio-economic interest and is a “Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance” (SPAMI) recognized by the Barcelona Convention and the United Nations Environment Programme.

Creation of a voluntary fund for the protection of marine mammals in the PELAGOS sanctuary

The Pelagos Tripartite Agreement1, signed in 1999 by France, Italy and the Principality of Monaco, endowed itself last year with the Pelagos Voluntary Fund. This new instrument aims to financially support the ambitious “Pelagos Action Plan 2022-2027”.

Indeed, this fund will make it possible to finance priority tripartite initiatives included in the new Management Plan through funding from member states of the Agreement and through donations from individuals and citizens.

Thanks to the generous contributions of the Ministry of Ecological Transition for France, the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security for Italy, the Department of External Relations and Cooperation for the Government of Monaco as well as the association Nage Libre France, the Pelagos Voluntary Fund has already received half a million euros.

Voluntary contributions already received have been intended for the strengthening of cooperation activities and the permanent Secretariat of the Pelagos Agreement (Italy), the development of communication and a fundraising strategy for the Agreement (France) and the strengthening the governance of the Agreement (Monaco). 

Finally, the contribution of the association Nage Libre France aims to co-finance the development of a map of the risk caused by underwater noise to cetaceans in the Pelagos Sanctuary.

These first contributions to the Pelagos Voluntary Fund confirm the commitment of the Parties and a renewed desire to improve conservation measures in the only international area dedicated to marine mammals in the Mediterranean. Thus, the agreement wishes to express its sincere thanks to its parties and to the Nage Libre France association for their unwavering and compelling support.

How to Make a Donation 

In addition, anyone wishing to support the protection of whales, dolphins and monk seals and their precious environment can make a donation to the Pelagos Sanctuary by contacting the Permanent Secretariat directly at: secretariat@pelagossanctuary.org

In addition, it will soon be possible to make a donation on the Accord website with a simple click via: www.pelagos-sanctuary.org

So don’t wait any longer and contribute to the conservation of the marine biodiversity of the Pelagos Sanctuary!