25 Years of the Pelagos Sanctuary: Paving the Way for a Broader Mediterranean Haven
The Pelagos Sanctuary marks 25 years of protecting Mediterranean cetaceans. Key future goals include expanding to Menorca and Spain, setting ship speed limits (10–13 knots), and establishing unified trilateral governance to safeguard marine life.
By Pelagos Conservation Team Published: August 10, 2026
8/10/20262 min read
Protecting Europe’s Cetaceans: A Quarter-Century Legacy
Twenty-five years ago, France, Italy, and Monaco joined forces to sign a historic treaty: the Pelagos Agreement. Encompassing 87,500 square kilometers of the Liguro-Provençal Basin, it became the first international Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI) established on the high seas.
Designed as a sanctuary for marine mammals, Pelagos is a biological hotspot where nutrient-rich currents sustain species such as the fin whale, sperm whale, Cuvier’s beaked whale, striped dolphin, and the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal.
As we mark a quarter-century of coordinated marine conservation, we look back at what Pelagos has achieved—and look forward to the bold new steps required to secure its future.
What Has Changed in 25 Years?
Conservation in dynamic marine environments is never static. Over the past two decades, the threats facing Mediterranean cetaceans have shifted dramatically:
The Decline of Driftnets: One of the Agreement’s earliest and biggest triumphs was supporting the effective ban on pelagic driftnets (prohibited by the EU in 2002), which previously killed thousands of dolphins and whales every year.
Rising Maritime Traffic: Ship strikes remain one of the primary non-natural causes of mortality for fin and sperm whales. Commercial shipping through the sanctuary has grown by over 50% since the 1990s.
Underwater Noise & Pollution: Engine noise, naval sonars, microplastics, and chemical runoff continue to degrade critical cetacean habitats.
Climate Change: Warming waters (increasing by 0.3°C to 0.4°C per decade) and frequent marine heatwaves are altering prey distribution, forcing marine species to adapt or migrate.
Expanding the Horizon: Connecting Pelagos to Spain & Menorca
Marine mammals do not recognize geopolitical borders. To offer true, ecosystem-wide protection, scientists and policymakers are advocating for a westward expansion of the Sanctuary.
The Spanish Cetacean Migration Corridor
To the west of the current Pelagos boundary lies a crucial ecological artery: the Spanish Cetacean Migration Corridor, stretching across the Balearic Sea past Mallorca, Ibiza, and Menorca.
By designating Menorca as a key focal point and bringing Spain onboard as a formal partner, the Pelagos Sanctuary can link its waters directly to this migratory corridor. This expansion would create a continuous, highly protected corridor spanning from the Italian coast all the way to the Iberian Peninsula.
The Roadmap for the Next Decade: Governance & Speed Limits
To turn vision into reality, scientists and legal experts recommend four key pillars for the future of Pelagos:
Integrated Trilateral Governance: Transitioning from national-level implementation to a unified, international executive authority with direct oversight.
Mandatory Speed Limits: Enforcing mandatory vessel speed reductions (10–13 knots) in high-risk zones to drastically cut ship strikes.
Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs): Creating strict, extraction-free zones over submarine canyons where deep-diving species like sperm whales and Cuvier's beaked whales feed.
Noise Monitoring Networks: Establishing real-time acoustic tracking systems to monitor underwater noise pollution.
How You Can Help
Protecting the giants of the Mediterranean requires collective effort from researchers, policymakers, maritime operators, and citizens.
📢 Spread the Word: Share our infographic series on social media to raise awareness about ship strikes and noise pollution.
🚤 Eco-Friendly Boating: If you are navigating in the Pelagos area, strictly respect the 500-meter approach buffer around marine mammals and keep speed under 10 knots in coastal waters.
💙 Support Local Marine Conservation: Get involved with regional marine NGOs working on cetacean research and habitat preservation in the Western Mediterranean.
Together, let's build a safer, interconnected Mediterranean for future generations. 🌊🐋
Source: Adapted from Notarbartolo di Sciara & Scovazzi (2026), Marine Pollution Bulletin. Publication below.