The Technical Advisory Commission for the renewal of the Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI) status of the Pelagos Sanctuary convened on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, in Monaco. The meeting assessed progress achieved since the last review in 2019.
International experts, in collaboration with the National Focal Points of the SPA/BD Protocol under the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA) of the Barcelona Convention, analyzed the advancements made in managing and protecting this unique marine area.
The findings from this review will be presented at the 17th Meeting of the SPA/BD Focal Points in May 2025 before being discussed at the 24th Conference of Parties (COP24) of the Barcelona Convention, scheduled for December 2025 in Egypt. A decision on the renewal of the Pelagos Sanctuary’s SPAMI status will be made during the COP24 meeting.
Established to protect marine mammals in the Mediterranean, the Pelagos Sanctuary has held SPAMI status since 2001, with a mandatory renewal every six years.
