ACCOBAMS celebrates 20th anniversary

H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince at the opening of the Sixth Meeting of the Parties to ACCOBAMS © Government Communication Department / Charly Gallo

The Sixth Meeting of the Parties to ACCOBAMS opened on Tuesday 22 November 2016 in the presence of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince, the Minister of State and many other key figures. The meeting will close on 25 November.

ACCOBAMS will celebrate its twentieth anniversary on 24 November. The aim of this intergovernmental agreement is to mitigate the threats that endanger cetaceans, notably through improving understanding of these animals and implementing appropriate conservation measures.

In his speech, H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince stressed that “ACCOBAMS, a true ambassador for protecting the oceans and conserving migratory species, has, in its 20 years, served as an example for other areas of the world, such as the Red Sea, the African coasts, the Pacific and the Caribbean.”

Since ACCOBAMS was established, the Parties have adopted numerous resolutions covering a wide range of topics relevant to the conservation of cetaceans in the Black Sea, Mediterranean and contiguous Atlantic area. The Permanent Secretariat has put in place various types of scientific cooperation, designed to gain a better understanding of cetaceans and their environment, and has developed collaborative projects with other international organisations.

H.E. Mr Serge Telle, Minister of State, H.E. Mr Xavier Sticker, President of the Agreement, and Ms Florence Descroix-Comanducci, the Executive Secretary of ACCOBAMS, today signed an Amendment to the Headquarters Agreement, setting out the conditions for hosting the Permanent Secretariat in Monaco.