What ACCOBAMS does

ACCOBAMS (Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area) is an intergovernmental conservation agreement established under Article IV of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), signed in Monaco on 24 November 1996 and entered into force in 2001. It coordinates cetacean conservation across the maritime waters of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and contiguous Atlantic area west of the Strait of Gibraltar, serving 24+ Range States and Parties through a governance structure comprising a triennial Meeting of the Parties, a Bureau, a Scientific Committee, a Follow-Up Committee, a Secretariat hosted by the Government of Monaco since February 2002, and two Sub-Regional Coordination Units (UNEP-MAP SPA/RAC for the Mediterranean, Black Sea Commission for the Black Sea).

Its core technical capability is the ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative (ASI), a basin-scale coordinated monitoring program combining aerial surveys, vessel-based visual observations, and passive acoustic monitoring to produce robust estimates of cetacean abundance, distribution, and anthropogenic pressures. ASI-I (2018-2023) generated the first comprehensive cetacean dataset for the region and fed IUCN Red List updates; ASI-II was launched in June 2025 at UNOC3 and runs through 2028, with a Mediterranean synoptic survey in Summer 2026 and a Black Sea feasibility study in 2027. Supporting products include the NETCCOBAMS online data platform, the High Quality Whale Watching® certification (10-year anniversary), the Certification for Highly Qualified MMO/PAM Operators, the CeNoBS Project, periodic Conservation Status Reports (2002, 2010, 2021), and the biennial CSMC conference series on South Mediterranean cetacean conservation.

ACCOBAMS is not a commercial entity and sells no products or services. It is funded by mandatory Party contributions (scale set at MOP1, with regional economic integration organizations capped at 2.5% of administrative costs), a Voluntary Supplementary Conservation Fund, and bilateral/multilateral technical and financial assistance, with additional in-kind and operational support from a network of 50+ Partner organizations (NGOs, research institutes, private companies). Operations are run by a Secretariat of approximately 5–10 staff based in Monaco.

Name

ACCOBAMS

Legal name

Accobams

Website

https://accobams.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Intergovernmental agreement under the CMS Convention coordinating cetacean conservation across the Black Sea, Mediterranean, and contiguous Atlantic for 24+ Range States and Parties, through basin-scale surveys, certification programs, and a multilateral Partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Marine Conservation Agreement

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whale Watching & Marine Mammal Tours (THAAAIAC), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

Keywords

• Cetacean conservation agreement
• Marine mammal monitoring
• Intergovernmental environmental treaty
• Passive acoustic monitoring surveys
• Whale watching certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Monaco

HQ country

Monaco

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Party Contributions: Contributions from member Parties to the ACCOBAMS budget, determined at the Meeting of the Parties. The scale of contributions is established collectively, with no regional economic integration organization required to contribute more than 2.5% of administrative costs.
2. Voluntary Supplementary Conservation Fund: Voluntary contributions from Parties or other sources to increase funds available for monitoring, research, training and conservation projects.
3. Bilateral/Multilateral Technical and Financial Support: Technical and financial assistance provided bilaterally or multilaterally to assist developing country Range States in implementing the Agreement.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ACCOBAMS is an intergovernmental conservation agreement that coordinates cetacean conservation and large-scale scientific monitoring across the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and contiguous Atlantic area among 24+ member countries. Its core offerings are the ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative (coordinated aerial, vessel-based, and passive acoustic monitoring programmes), conservation status reports, certification programs for whale watching operators and MMO/PAM operators, and the NETCCOBAMS data platform that together support its legally binding mandate to maintain favourable conservation status for cetaceans.

Product overview

ACCOBAMS is a conservation agreement organization (not a technology company) that operates a portfolio of marine monitoring and conservation programs. The core offering is the ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative (ASI) and ASI-II, large-scale coordinated survey programs using aerial, vessel-based, and passive acoustic monitoring to assess cetacean populations. Supporting services include data platforms (NETCCOBAMS), certification programs (High Quality Whale Watching®, MMO/PAM Operator Certification), conservation modules addressing threats like bycatch and noise, research projects like CeNoBS, scientific publications and status reports, and biennial CSMC conferences. The organization does not offer a technology product with AI/ML capabilities or public APIs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative (ASI): A major scientific monitoring program for cetaceans and marine megafauna in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, with ASI-I (2018-2023) and ASI-II (2025-2028).
• ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative II (ASI-II)
• High Quality Whale Watching Certificate
• CeNoBS Project

Products and services

• ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative (ASI) Large-scale coordinated scientific survey program for cetaceans and marine megafauna in the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea using aerial surveys, vessel-based observations, and passive acoustic monitoring to generate data on species distribution, abundance, and anthropogenic pressures. Targeted at member governments and the scientific community.
• ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative II (ASI-II) Second phase of the ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative (2025-2028), aiming to update and expand scientific data on cetaceans and marine megafauna, assess Good Environmental Status (GES), and support conservation strategies through coordinated basin-scale surveys.
• NETCCOBAMS Platform Online data platform providing data visualization and access to cetacean monitoring information from the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions for Parties, researchers, and stakeholders.
• High Quality Whale Watching® Certificate Certification program for whale watching operators meeting high standards for sustainable cetacean observation practices, targeting commercial whale watching companies in the Agreement area.
• Certification for Highly Qualified MMO/PAM Operators Certification program for Marine Mammal Observers (MMO) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) operators who meet qualified standards for cetacean monitoring during offshore operations, targeting professional monitoring operators.
• Conservation Status Reports Periodic scientific reports on the conservation status of cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and adjacent areas, including status reports from 2002, 2010, and 2021, targeted at Parties, scientists, and conservation stakeholders.
• CeNoBS Project Project focused on cetacean monitoring and research in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, contributing to the ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative objectives.
• Cetacean Conservation Module Structured conservation program addressing key threats to cetaceans including bycatch, depredation, anthropogenic noise, ship strikes, climate change, and marine debris, targeting Parties and partner organizations.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UNOC3 (Third United Nations Ocean Conference)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative II was officially launched in June 2025 during a side event at UNOC3 in Nice, France, where government representatives and international organizations reaffirmed their commitment to the initiative.
• AGIRminorOthers · 1 November 2024Environmental organization listed as an ACCOBAMS Partner, contributing to cetacean conservation actions within the Agreement area.
• ALNITAKminorOthers · 1 November 2024Marine conservation organization listed as an ACCOBAMS Partner.
• Archipelagos Institute of Marine ConservationminorOthers · 1 November 2024Greek marine conservation organization listed as an ACCOBAMS Partner.
• Tethys Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Italian marine research organization and long-time ACCOBAMS Partner. Collaborated on the ACCOBAMS-Tethys side event at CMS COP15 and has participated in joint workshops on fin whale conservation.
• INSTM (Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Tunisian national marine research institute. Co-organized CSMC6 in Monastir, Tunisia in 2023 and collaborated on tele-necropsy training with ACCOBAMS.
• Pelagos Cetacean Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Greek marine research institute listed as an ACCOBAMS Partner, contributing to cetacean research in the Mediterranean.
• International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Global animal welfare organization listed as an ACCOBAMS Partner, providing expertise and support for cetacean conservation initiatives.
• OceanCareminorOthers · 1 November 2024International marine conservation organization listed as an ACCOBAMS Partner, focusing on cetacean protection.
• Oceana FoundationminorOthers · 1 November 2024International marine conservation organization listed as an ACCOBAMS Partner.
• WWF Mediterranean ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Major international conservation organization listed as an ACCOBAMS Partner, contributing to marine conservation efforts in the Mediterranean.
• CIMA Research FoundationminorOthers · 1 November 2024Italian research foundation listed as an ACCOBAMS Partner, contributing to marine research.
• Morigenos, Slovenian Marine Mammal SocietyminorOthers · 1 November 2024Slovenian marine mammal research organization listed as an ACCOBAMS Partner.
• Blue World Institute of Marine Research and ConservationminorOthers · 1 November 2024Croatian marine research organization listed as an ACCOBAMS Partner.
• ASCOBANScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas. Joint workshop on marine debris held in 2023 between ACCOBAMS and ASCOBANS.
• UNEP-MAP SPA/RAC (Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPA/RAC was designated during the First Meeting of the Parties as the Sub-Regional Coordination Unit for the Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area. It facilitates implementation of conservation activities, collects and evaluates information, and prepares international reviews and publications on cetacean status.
• Black Sea CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Black Sea Commission was designated as the Sub-Regional Coordination Unit for the Black Sea sub-region, facilitating implementation of ACCOBAMS conservation measures and activities in that region.
• Pelagos AgreementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational agreement for the creation of a Specially Protected Area in the Mediterranean (Pelagos Sanctuary). ACCOBAMS collaborates with Pelagos on conferences, marine debris awareness, and other joint initiatives.
• UNEP/MAP (UN Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional seas programme for the Mediterranean. ACCOBAMS activities align with the UNEP/MAP ecosystem approach framework and Barcelona Convention protocols.
• CGPM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional fisheries management organization. ACCOBAMS cooperates with CGPM on issues relating to fisheries interactions with cetaceans, bycatch mitigation, and sustainable fishing practices.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ASCOBANS (Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas): Direct sister agreement under CMS, covering small cetaceans in northern European seas. Jointly held a 2023 workshop on marine debris with ACCOBAMS, making it the most structurally comparable peer in terms of mandate, governance and operations.
• Tethys Research Institute: Italian marine research organization and long-standing ACCOBAMS Partner. Co-hosted side events at CMS COP15 and contributed to joint fin whale conservation workshops, making it a peer-level scientific counterpart.
• Pelagos Agreement / Pelagos Sanctuary: Bilateral agreement among France, Italy and Monaco for a Specially Protected Area in the north-western Mediterranean. Listed as a core strategic partner, with collaboration on conferences, marine debris awareness, and joint initiatives.
• UNEP-MAP SPA/RAC (Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre): Designated Sub-Regional Coordination Unit for the Mediterranean and contiguous Atlantic area under ACCOBAMS. Co-organizes CSMC conferences and coordinates implementation activities in the sub-region.

Broad incumbents

• UNEP/MAP - Barcelona Convention Secretariat: Regional seas framework for the Mediterranean. ACCOBAMS activities align with the UNEP/MAP ecosystem approach and Barcelona Convention protocols, making it the principal regional policy framework peer.
• CMS (Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals): Parent framework convention under which ACCOBAMS operates as an Article IV agreement. Sets overall policy direction and provides the umbrella legal context for ACCOBAMS's binding obligations.
• International Whaling Commission (IWC): Global intergovernmental body for cetacean conservation and management. Overlaps with ACCOBAMS in mandate (cetaceans) and governance structure (Parties, Scientific Committee), though with a wider geographic remit.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Global conservation authority whose Red List has been directly informed by ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative data. Comparable as a science-driven conservation standard-setter with which ACCOBAMS co-produces policy outcomes.

Regional players

• General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM/CGPM): FAO regional fisheries management body that cooperates with ACCOBAMS on bycatch mitigation and fisheries interactions. Functionally comparable as a Mediterranean regional body with binding obligations on member states.

Emerging players

• WWF Mediterranean Programme: Major international conservation NGO listed as a core ACCOBAMS Partner. Comparable as a cetacean and marine conservation implementer in the Mediterranean, though NGO-structured rather than intergovernmental.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/accobams

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ACCOBAMS