Pelagos Agreement
The Pelagos Agreement is an intergovernmental treaty between France, Italy, and Monaco that manages the 87,500 km² Pelagos Sanctuary in the Northwestern Mediterranean, coordinating scientific research, cetacean conservation, and stakeholder programs including the HQWW® whale watching certification and the Pelagos Partnership Charter for municipalities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersMonaco, Monaco
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Pelagos Agreement does
The Pelagos Agreement is an international intergovernmental treaty signed on November 25, 1999, in Rome by France, Italy, and the Principality of Monaco, and in force since February 21, 2002. It establishes and manages the Pelagos Sanctuary — a 87,500 km² transboundary marine protected area in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea (with over half located in international waters) dedicated to conserving cetaceans and their habitats against human-induced threats including ship strikes, bycatch, underwater noise, pollution, recreational boating disturbance, and climate change. The Agreement operates through a rotating presidency (currently held by Monaco for 2026–2027), a Scientific and Technical Committee, and a small Permanent Secretariat headquartered in Monaco with approximately 6 staff members.
The organization's core activities span scientific research (cetacean abundance and distribution studies, AIS-based maritime traffic analysis covering over 60 million data points from 2019–2023, underwater noise monitoring, pollution assessment), conservation policy coordination across the three member states, and stakeholder engagement programs. Its product portfolio includes the Pelagos Sanctuary Management framework, the HQWW® (High Quality Whale Watching) certification for sustainable whale watching operators (entrusted to Fondazione CIMA as the sole accredited body since 2019), the Pelagos Partnership Charter signed by 100+ coastal municipalities, the Pelagos Ambassador citizen program, the annual Pelagos Theses Award, and the Sustainable Ports in the Pelagos Sanctuary project (mapping 255 ports and marinas with operational sustainability recommendations).
The business model is non-commercial. Funding derives from member state contributions, the Voluntary Pelagos Fund established to support the Pelagos Action Plan (2022–2027), and direct public donations processed through the organization's website. The Agreement holds SPAMI (Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance) status under the Barcelona Convention/UNEP-MAP and maintains strategic partnerships with ACCOBAMS, REMPEC, RAMOGE, MPAs and National Parks, CIMA Foundation, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, and the Princely Government of Monaco.
Pelagos Agreement firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pelagos Agreement
- Legal name
- Permanent Secretariat of the Pelagos Agreement
- Website
- https://pelagos-sanctuary.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Pelagos Agreement is an intergovernmental treaty between France, Italy, and Monaco that manages the 87,500 km² Pelagos Sanctuary in the Northwestern Mediterranean, coordinating scientific research, cetacean conservation, and stakeholder programs including the HQWW® whale watching certification and the Pelagos Partnership Charter for municipalities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pelagos Agreement industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)
- SIC
- International Affairs (9721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)
Keywords
Where Pelagos Agreement is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Monaco
- HQ country
- Monaco
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pelagos Agreement business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Voluntary Pelagos Fund: The Pelagos Agreement established a voluntary fund to financially support the ambitious Pelagos Action Plan (2022-2027). Donations are collected and managed by the Permanent Secretariat for conservation activities.
- Direct Donations: Individual donations collected through the website's donation functionality, processed via secure payment systems. Donors provide name, surname, and email address.
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Pelagos Agreement product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Pelagos Agreement manages the Pelagos Sanctuary, an 87,500 km² transboundary marine protected area in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, through an international treaty between France, Italy, and Monaco. Its core activities include coordinated scientific research on cetacean populations (8 regular whale and dolphin species), conservation management measures addressing threats such as ship strikes, bycatch, underwater noise, pollution, and disturbance, and policy harmonization across the three member states. The Permanent Secretariat in Monaco coordinates the Pelagos Partnership Charter, the HQWW® certification program, citizen ambassador engagement, and an annual theses award.
Product overview
The Pelagos Agreement is an international conservation treaty between France, Italy, and Monaco, signed in 1999 and in effect since 2002, managing the Pelagos Sanctuary - a 87,500 km² marine protected area in the Northwestern Mediterranean. The organization offers a portfolio of services including the HQWW® certification for responsible whale watching operators, the Pelagos Partnership Charter for municipalities, the Pelagos Ambassador Program for citizen engagement, the annual Pelagos Theses Award for scientific research, and the Sustainable Ports project providing environmental guidance for port infrastructure. The Voluntary Fund supports financing of conservation activities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pelagos Sanctuary Management Coordinated management of the 87,500 km² transboundary marine protected area in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, dedicated to protecting cetaceans and their habitats across France, Italy, and Monaco.
- Pelagos Partnership Charter Voluntary commitment framework for municipalities along the Sanctuary's coastline to formally pledge protection of marine mammals and their habitats and implement associated operational measures.
Quantifiable outcome
- 255 ports and marinas mapped with sustainability recommendations
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Pelagos Agreement
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Pelagos Agreement technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Pelagos Agreement partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- REMPEC (Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea)coreMemorandum of Understanding signed at MOP10 to strengthen cooperation for the protection of the marine environment in the Mediterranean, with particular focus on the Pelagos Sanctuary. Aims to coordinate emergency response and pollution prevention efforts.
- UNEP-MAP (UN Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan)coreOfficial partner of the UNEP-MAP Barcelona Convention since 2023. SPAMI status under the Barcelona Convention facilitates coordination, scientific cooperation, international visibility, and access to funding opportunities for the Pelagos Sanctuary.
- ACCOBAMS (Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area)coreCollaboration on the HQWW® (High Quality Whale Watching) certification program. ACCOBAMS registers the HQWW® label and works jointly with Pelagos Agreement on whale watching standards and marine mammal conservation.
- CIMA Research FoundationcoreCollaborates on scientific studies, whale watching operator training, and the HQWW® certification program. Fondazione CIMA is the only accredited body for HQWW® certification in Italy since 2019.
- Centre Scientifique de MonacocoreScientific collaboration with representation at events such as the Ocean Space Forum. Contributes scientific expertise to marine conservation efforts within the Sanctuary.
- RAMOGE Agreement (Man and the Sea)coreCollaboration on marine environment protection in the Ligurian Sea area, including protocols for dealing with historic munitions at sea and coordinated environmental initiatives.
- Municipalities (Pelagos Partnership Charter)coreOver 100 municipalities along the Sanctuary coastline have signed the Pelagos Partnership Charter, committing to marine mammal protection measures, cetacean stranding response, and sustainable coastal management.
- Marine Protected Areas and National ParkscoreCollaboration with MPAs and National Parks within the Sanctuary for harmonized management measures, particularly for priority species like bottlenose dolphin and Mediterranean monk seal.
- Parco Nazionale Arcipelago ToscanocoreFunding and hosting the 6th edition of the HQWW® training course. Located within the Sanctuary boundaries and actively participates in conservation initiatives.
- Bergeggi Marine Protected AreacoreCo-organized technical workshop on cooperation between Marine Protected Areas, National Parks, and Partnership Charter municipalities held at Fortezza del Priamar in Savona.
- Princely Government of MonacocoreHost country and founding member of the Agreement. Currently holds the Presidency of the Agreement for biennium 2026-2027 under the rotation system. Co-organizes the Ocean Space Forum.
- CNES (French National Centre for Space Studies)minorCo-organizer of the Ocean Space Forum 2026, bringing together space technology expertise for ocean protection and monitoring applications.
- Prométhée Earth IntelligenceminorCo-organizer of the Ocean Space Forum 2026, contributing earth observation and intelligence capabilities for marine monitoring.
- Yacht Club de MonacominorHost venue for the Adapt-Pelagos workshop on sustainable cruising and recreational activities. Active participant in marine conservation awareness events.
- Rotary Club Cap d'AilminorRaised public awareness of marine mammal protection at the Sea Festival in Cap d'Ail through interactive educational games, supporting the Agreement's outreach mission.
- Fondation Princesse Charlène de MonacominorSupported 'The Crossing 2026' initiative combining sports, solidarity, and marine protection awareness during the event from Viareggio to Monaco.
- INFO/RAC (Information and Communication Centre of UNEP-MAP)minorParticipated in UNOC3 round table discussions, contributing to Mediterranean environmental policy coordination and data sharing initiatives.
- International Whaling Commission (IWC)minorCollaboration on large cetacean disentanglement training, bringing international expertise to rescue operations in the Sanctuary.
- European Blue Schools NetworkminorPart of the European network of hundreds of schools and teachers from EU member countries, engaging students in marine protection education through the Pelagos Agreement's youth programs.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Pelagos Agreement competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- International Whaling Commission (IWC): Intergovernmental body for whale conservation and management. Pelagos already collaborates with IWC on large cetacean disentanglement training and shares the large-cetacean protection mandate, though IWC operates at a global scale.
- OSPAR Commission: Regional intergovernmental cooperation for the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic. Comparable as a regional marine protection body with broader geographic and thematic scope than Pelagos, including cetacean and habitat conservation.
- WWF Mediterranean: World Wildlife Fund's Mediterranean programme focuses on marine protected areas, cetaceans, and sustainable fisheries in the region. Comparable geographic scope and cetacean conservation mandate, though structured as an NGO rather than an intergovernmental agreement.
- UNEP-MAP (Barcelona Convention): United Nations Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan and the Barcelona Convention framework. Umbrella treaty under which Pelagos operates as a SPAMI, providing governance, scientific cooperation, and funding opportunities for Mediterranean marine protected areas.
- IUCN Centre for Biodiversity Conservation: Global conservation organization that publishes the Red List and develops marine protected area standards. Comparable in mission (species and habitat conservation) and influence on global marine conservation policy.
Direct peers
- ASCOBANS: Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas. A parallel cetacean-focused multilateral treaty under the Bonn Convention with similar legal structure and species-protection mandate, though covering a different geography.
- RAMOGE Agreement: Intergovernmental agreement between France, Italy, and Monaco for the protection of the marine environment in the Ligurian Sea. Directly comparable legal structure, member states, and Mediterranean coastal protection scope.
- ACCOBAMS: Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area. Operates as a sister intergovernmental cetacean protection treaty under UNEP-MAP, sharing the same legal framework, target species, and Mediterranean geographic scope as Pelagos.
Emerging players
- MedPAN (Mediterranean Protected Areas Network): Network of Mediterranean marine protected area managers coordinating conservation efforts across the region. Comparable in coordinating role across MPAs and alignment with SPAMI designations, though broader in scope and managed by a non-profit rather than a treaty body.
- Sovena Foundation (Fondazione CIMA): CIMA Research Foundation is the only accredited body for the HQWW® certification in Italy since 2019. Directly implements the Pelagos whale watching certification program and is a key operational partner for training and standards delivery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pelagos Agreement social profiles
Digital presencePelagos Agreement financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pelagos Agreement leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Pelagos Agreement funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pelagos Agreement M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pelagos Agreement
What does Pelagos Agreement do?
The Pelagos Agreement manages the Pelagos Sanctuary, an 87,500 km² transboundary marine protected area in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, through an international treaty between France, Italy, and Monaco. Its core activities include coordinated scientific research on cetacean populations (8 regular whale and dolphin species), conservation management measures addressing threats such as ship strikes, bycatch, underwater noise, pollution, and disturbance, and policy harmonization across the three member states. The Permanent Secretariat in Monaco coordinates the Pelagos Partnership Charter, the HQWW® certification program, citizen ambassador engagement, and an annual theses award.
Is Pelagos Agreement a public or private company?
Pelagos Agreement is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Pelagos Agreement founded?
Pelagos Agreement was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Pelagos Agreement based?
Pelagos Agreement is headquartered in Monaco, Monaco, in the Europe region.
How does Pelagos Agreement make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Voluntary Pelagos Fund is the primary driver. The others are direct Donations.
Who are Pelagos Agreement's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are International Whaling Commission (IWC), OSPAR Commission, WWF Mediterranean, UNEP-MAP (Barcelona Convention) and IUCN Centre for Biodiversity Conservation. Direct peers are ASCOBANS, RAMOGE Agreement and ACCOBAMS. Emerging players are MedPAN (Mediterranean Protected Areas Network) and Sovena Foundation (Fondazione CIMA).
Does Pelagos Agreement have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pelagos Agreement.
What industry is Pelagos Agreement in?
Pelagos Agreement's product category is Marine Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation, with a secondary code of BPAIAMAI, Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines). Its NAICS code is 92412 and its SIC code is 9721.