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ACCOBAMS

An international agreement for marine In order to improve knowledge on marine
biodiversity. biodiversity and to offer countries credible
and acceptable conservation measures, the
The Agreement on the Conservation of agreement relies on a Permanent Secretariat
Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea (based in Monaco), a Scientific Committee and
and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS) a Monitoring Committee tracking application of
is an intergovernmental cooperation tool these measures.
for the conservation of marine biodiversity.
This Agreement embodies riparian countries’ Conservation measures include :
commitment to preserve all species of cetaceans • Obligations to prohibit all voluntary capture;
and their habitats by applying measures to to reduce accidental capture of cetaceans in
mitigate impacts of economic activities. fishing nets; to conduct impact assessments
for all activities liable to affect cetaceans and
ACCOBAMS responds to the need to reinforce the fight against pollution;
expressed by four international, European • The evaluation and management of
and Mediterranean Conventions specialized interactions between human activity and
in the conservation of marine biodiversity and cetaceans (fishing, pollution and waste,
in protection of the marine environment: the underwater noise from all sources, collisions
Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the with ships, tourist activity...);
Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of • The protection of habitats, namely
the Mediterranean and its Protocol concerning by creating Specially Protected Areas
Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity and by maintaining migration corridors;
in the Mediterranean, the Bonn Convention on • Research and monitoring to justify
the Conservation of Migratory Species, the Bern conservation measures and improve their
Convention on the Conservation of European effectiveness;
Wildlife and Natural Habitats and the Bucharest • Capacity building to enable effective
Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea implementation of conservation measures
Against Pollution. and the collection of relevant data;
• Information, training and education
The agreement was concluded under the programmes for the public and for
auspices of the Bonn Convention, signed professionals;
in Monaco on November 24, 1996. The • Emergency response capability for the
Agreement Area consists of the maritime rescue of wounded, ill or stranded animals
waters of the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and follow-up for improving scientific
and the Atlantic area west of the Straits of understanding of the causes of such events.
Gibraltar (this area was extended in 2010 to
the entire Portuguese and Spanish Atlantic
coast) covering 24 countries. The Agreement
participates in global conservation processes in
sea and Ocean conservation.

https ://accobams.org