Page 38 - Livre_MOW2018_FR

36 / THE OCEAN : BIODIVERSITY WHICH WE MUST PROTECT

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
Two MPAs merge to protect

marine mammals

On 13 April 2018 during Monaco Ocean Week, the Agoa Sanctuary

in the West Indies and Pelagos Sanctuary in the Mediterranean signed

a memorandum of understanding to share their actions and experience

with a common goal: protecting marine mammals.

These two Sanctuaries share a common
goal: guaranteeing a favourable conserva-
tion environment for marine mammals by
protecting them, as well as their habitats,
from the direct or indirect negative impacts
of human activity.

The cooperation between the two Sanc-
tuaries is the continuation of the “Monaco
Explorations” and the journey of the ship
“Yersin” in October 2017 to the West Indies,
with the support of the Prince Albert II of
Monaco Foundation. The terms of this coo-
peration focus more specifically on:

Best practices in terms of governance
and cross-border cooperation and the
implication for local players in protecting
marine mammals; Training and awareness actions regarding ties to the Pelagos Agreement, Mrs Fannie
marine mammals to the benefit of mana- Dubois, Executive Secretary of the Pelagos
The measures to manage and assess gers, local stakeholders and the public. Agreement and her deputy, Mrs Constanza
their effectiveness, notably supervision of Favilli, as well as Mr Robert Calcagno, Chief
nautical events and activities such as whale The signing ceremony took place at the Executive Officer of the Oceanographic Ins-
watching - with particular attention on the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco in titute.
approach distance of these species - and the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of
the measures to reduce underwater noise Monaco, H.E. Mr Bernard Fautrier, Minister
and collisions between boats and large ce- Plenipotentiary and Vice-President, Chief
taceans; Executive Officer of the Prince Albert II of
Monaco Foundation, H.E. Mr Xavier Sticker,
Twinning projects between municipalities Ambassador for the Environment, Mr Cyril
of the two Sanctuaries; Gomez, Chair of the Meeting of the Par-