Official launch of the Pelagos Consortium at UNOC3 in Nice

An alliance for the protection of cetaceans in the Pelagos Sanctuary

On the sidelines of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the Pelagos Initiative officially announced the launch of the Pelagos Consortium during a dedicated side event held at the Palais des Rois Sardes.

The Pelagos Sanctuary, created in 1999 by France, Italy, and Monaco under the Pelagos Agreement, is the only transboundary marine area in the Mediterranean dedicated to the protection of marine mammals and their habitats.

The Pelagos Consortium, coordinated by the Tethys Research Institute, aims to reinforce efforts to conserve cetaceans and their habitats in the Pelagos Sanctuary through enhanced cross-border cooperation, innovative science, grassroots engagement, and robust policy advocacy. The Pelagos Consortium brings together thirteen international partners from the research community, civil society, public institutions, and local authorities.

A structuring philanthropic support

This ambitious effort is made possible through the support of a coalition of philanthropic institutions committed to ocean protection. In addition to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the initiative is backed by Adessium, Didier and Martine Primat Foundation, the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, Oceans5, Tiffany&Co. Foundation, UBS Optimus Foundation, UBS Monaco.

Their joint funding, representing a multi-million-euro commitment, follows the collective pledge announced by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Our Ocean Conference 2024 to accelerate progress toward the 30x30 targets in the Mediterranean by 2030.

A multi-stakeholder alliance structured around four strategic pillars

• Policy and Advocacy: advancing key regulatory measures, such as ship speed limitations, underwater noise reduction, and the designation of highly protected areas.
• Communication: engaging the public and maritime stakeholders to raise awareness and build collective responsibility.
• Stakeholder Engagement: mobilizing private sector and working closely with ports, shipping companies, shipyards, fishers, and local governments to co-develop effective mitigation measures.
• Research and Innovation: generating high-quality scientific data through technologies like passive acoustic monitoring, remote fibre optic sensing, ecological mapping, and satellite telemetry to guide evidence-based action.

The objective of the Consortium is clear: to accelerate the transition towards concrete and effective measures, based on a collaborative dynamic involving civil society, researchers, public authorities, and local communities. It will directly contribute to the Global Biodiversity Framework and the 30x30 and 10x30 ambition.

The launch of the Consortium represents a turning point in efforts to make the Sanctuary a global model of marine governance.

The Consortium members include: ACCOBAMS Secretariat, BlueSeeds, Cerema, CNRS-Géoazur Department of Alpes-Maritimes, Green Marine Europe, Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, MIRACETI, OceanCare, Port-Cros National Park, Portofino MPA, Tethys Research Institute and WWF Italy

Photos: ©Arnold Jerocki / FPA2