Ramoge Agreement Celebrates 50 Years of Environmental Action
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Ramoge Agreement, a pivotal environmental partnership in the Mediterranean. A series of scientific, institutional, and public events will take place across Monaco, France, and Italy throughout 2026 to commemorate this milestone. Originally signed on May 10, 1976, the agreement has evolved from its initial focus on three coastal points to encompass a broader region, highlighting the ongoing commitment to protect the Mediterranean Sea.
A Legacy of Environmental Protection
The Ramoge Agreement, named after the initials of Saint-Raphaël, Monaco, and Genoa, was established following a call to action by Prince Rainier III at a plenary assembly in Rome. He urged France, Italy, and Monaco to collaborate in safeguarding their shared marine environment. This initiative was significant as it marked the first concrete regional accord aimed at protecting the Mediterranean, translating commitments made at the Barcelona Convention into actionable measures.
In its early years, the agreement utilized a vessel converted into a floating laboratory, which was operated by the Centre Scientifique de Monaco. This vessel conducted initial sea campaigns to analyze water quality and identify pollution sources along the coastline from Antibes to Bordighera. The findings from these campaigns led to the construction of water treatment plants in the Ramoge zone during the 1980s.
A pivotal moment for the agreement occurred in 1991 when the oil tanker Haven exploded off the coast of Genoa, resulting in the largest oil spill in Mediterranean history. This disaster prompted the creation of the Ramogepol plan in 1993, a collaborative anti-pollution response mechanism that has been activated multiple times, including a successful operation in 2018 that recovered 90% of spilled hydrocarbons after a maritime collision.
Over the past five decades, the Ramoge Agreement has achieved significant milestones, including the removal of over 600 tonnes of marine debris from various sampling sites. It has conducted three deep-sea exploration campaigns, identified 67 zones of ecological interest, and contributed to the establishment of five marine protected areas. Additionally, more than 40 technical documents and educational resources have been published to support ongoing conservation efforts.
Celebrating 50 Years: Events and Initiatives
The anniversary celebrations commenced in March with the launch of the international photography competition “Ramoge — L’Homme et la Mer,” which will run until October 31. The main event is scheduled for June 26 in Monaco, where representatives from the three participating states will gather at the Prince’s Palace for an official ceremony. This will be followed by the inauguration of a commemorative exhibition at the Ministry of State, a live anti-pollution exercise at sea, and a public conference at the Musée Océanographique, featuring a virtual reality experience showcasing the deep-sea canyons of the Ramoge zone. A commemorative postage stamp will also be unveiled by Prince Albert II.
A traveling version of the exhibition will debut at the Gare Maritime in Genoa on May 28 and will later move to France, likely Marseille, in September. Additionally, a deep-sea exploration campaign aboard the research vessel Alfred Merlin is planned for late July, focusing on ecosystems at depths of up to 500 meters in the waters of France, Italy, and Monaco. Previous explorations have revealed significant human impacts, including waste accumulation in the Monaco Canyon.
