Action Plan for the conservation of cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea

Overview

Within the framework of the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity (SPA/BD Protocol), the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention adopted a regional Action Plan for the conservation of cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea.

Although they are not legally binding instruments, regional Action Plan for the Conservation of Cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea Action Plans are adopted by the Contracting Parties as strategic frameworks defining common priorities and actions to be implemented.

They promote the regional cooperation and coordination necessary for the conservation and sustainable management of the species and habitats concerned. This approach has proven essential to ensure their coherent protection across the Mediterranean.

Species concerned

The Action Plan covers cetacean species present in the Mediterranean Sea.

Twenty-five cetacean species have been recorded in the basin at varying levels of abundance. Eleven species are regularly present, with resident populations. The North Atlantic minke whale (Balaenoptera a. acutorostrata), the North Atlantic humpback whale (Megaptera n. novaeangliae), and the false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) are considered visitors, while the remaining species are regarded as very rare.

These species use the entire Mediterranean basin for feeding, reproduction, and migration.

Strategic orientation

The main objective of the Action Plan is to provide a framework and guidance for the conservation of cetaceans, in line with decisions adopted by international bodies such as:

the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS)
the Pelagos Sanctuary Agreement
the International Whaling Commission (IWC)

This objective is accompanied by priority actions to be implemented at national and regional levels, grouped into four categories:

Education and awareness
Capacity building
Research and monitoring
Management

Implementation

Implementation of the Action Plan is the responsibility of the national authorities of the Contracting Parties.

Regional coordination is ensured by SPA/RAC, in collaboration with ACCOBAMS and, where appropriate, with the support of its Scientific Committee.

This coordination between the Barcelona Convention and ACCOBAMS aims to ensure complementarity of regional actions, strengthen the coherence of conservation measures, and optimise the effectiveness of efforts undertaken for the benefit of cetaceans in the Mediterranean.

International organisations, NGOs, scientific institutions and laboratories may contribute to its implementation and, where appropriate, obtain the status of Action Plan Partner in accordance with the procedures adopted by the Contracting Parties.

List of the Regional Action Plan’ Partners

The list below has been approved by the Seventeenth Meeting of SPA/BD Focal Points, held in Istanbul from 20 to 22 May 2025.

ERA : Environment & Resources Authority (Malta)
OCEANA: Fundación Oceana – Oceana in Europe (Spain)
ISPRA: Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Italy)
MedPAN: The Mediterranean network of Marine Protected Areas Managers (France)
WWF Mediterranean: World Wide Fund for Nature – Mediterranean (Italy)
WWF NA: World Wide Fund for Nature – North Africa (Tunisia)