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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

RAMOGE : Develop a standardized monitoring method to ensure consistent deep-sea ecosystem assessment

RAMOGE Agreement (
Intergovernmental organization
)
#OceanAction57846
    Description
    Description

    Understanding and protecting deep-sea ecosystems requires long-term monitoring efforts. The sea doesn’t know frontiers, it is therefore crucial to apply standardized methodologies to assess and compare data across national jurisdictions. Recognizing this challenge, RAMOGE has developed a transnational, standardized monitoring approach for deep-sea habitats, jointly adopted by France, Italy, and Monaco, using research vessels and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs).

    This methodology ensures consistent data collection on biodiversity, habitat conditions, and human impacts, allowing scientists and policymakers to evaluate ecological states and implement effective conservation measures. By harmonizing monitoring efforts, this initiative strengthens regional cooperation and fosters a shared understanding of deep-sea conservation needs.

    RAMOGE commits to refining this monitoring approach further and advocating for its adoption by other Mediterranean countries, facilitating an integrated, region-wide strategy for deep-sea protection. Promoting this methodology aligns with international objectives such as the EU Biodiversity Strategy, the 30x30 conservation goal, and regional marine protection frameworks.

    Partners

    Direction de l’Environnement du Gouvernement Princier de Monaco (government), Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica (government), Ministère français de la Transition écologique (government), Office français de la biodiversité (government) ; GIS Posidonie (scientific community) ; CPIE Iles de Lérins & Pays d’Azur ; Centre Scientifique de Monaco (scientific community) ; IFREMER (scientific community) ; ISPRA (scientific community) ; Università di Genova (scientific community)

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
    14.5 By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
    14.a Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
    Adopt the standardized monitoring methodology for each campaign
    Share data within the three countries to publish public reports
    Encourage other Mediterranean countries to adopt the standardized methodology and share best practices
    Financing (in USD)
    A significant portion of the RAMOGE Agreement's budget (from the contribution of the three governments, France, Italy and Monaco) is allocated to sustaining exploration campaigns, funding data analysis, and producing outreach materials such as publication
    Staff / Technical expertise
    The success of these campaigns relies on a multidisciplinary team of experts. Researchers operate advanced technologies, including Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and multibeam sonar, to collect high-resolution imagery and bathymetric data. Scientists t
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Entity
    RAMOGE Agreement
    SDGs
    Other beneficiaries
    Institutions and policymakers (local authorities, marine protected area managers, governments), Scientific community (researchers and laboratories studying marine ecosystems), Civil society and NGOs dedicated to marine conservation, General public (citizens engaged in deep-sea conservation awareness)
    Ocean Basins
    Global
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine and coastal ecosystems management, Marine pollution, Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology
    Website/More information
    N/A
    Countries
    France
    France
    Italy
    Italy
    Monaco
    Monaco
    Headquarters
    Monaco
    Contact Information

    Florent, Executive Secretary of RAMOGE Agreement