Arabian Seas

PERSGA, the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, is an intergovernmental body dedicated to the conservation of the coastal and marine environments found in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Suez, Suez Canal, and Gulf of Aden surrounding the Socotra Archipelago and nearby waters. PERSGA’s member states include: Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

PERSGA’s legal basis stems from Article XVI of the Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, known as the Jeddah Convention, signed in 1982: “A Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment, the permanent headquarters of which shall be located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is hereby established". It was not until September 1995, however, with the signing of the Cairo Declaration during the First Council Meeting in Egypt, that PERSGA’s creation was formally announced. Falling under the umbrella of the Arab League, PERSGA has since become recognized as one of the leading marine conservation organizations operating in the Red Sea region.

The development of PERSGA’s Strategic Action Plan in 1997 provides the operational mandates governing PERSGA’s conservation activities and programmes. Taking a step-by-step approach, the SAP was prepared on the premise that it would be implemented in phases, each with its own set of particular priorities and areas of focus. The first Phase of the SAP was implemented during 1999-2005 with the support of GEF. As of 2006, PERSGA has been conducting its work under SAP Phase 2, which concentrates primarily on sustainable development and institutional strengthening.

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The Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, 1982^[1]

The Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 1982 (The Jeddah Convention), under the auspices of ALECSO, sets out the terms of regional cooperation among the signatory parties in regards to marine and coastal environmental protection. It specifically prioritises the need for collaboration in the control of marine pollution, scientific and technical assistance, environmental management and the development of environmental standards.

The Action Plan for the Conservation of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,1982^[2]

The Action Plan for the Conservation of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,1982, was developed to translate the priorities set out in the Jeddah Convention (1982) into a framework of action for an environmentally sound and comprehensive approach to coastal area development.

Final Act of the Jeddah Plenipotentiary Regional Conference on the Conservation of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,1982^[3]

The Final Act of the Jeddah Plenipotentiary Regional Conference on the Conservation of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,1982, summarises the proceedings surrounding the establishment of the Jeddah Convention (1982) and with particular emphasis on the administration procedures for the implementation of the Convention. It refers to the Agenda adopted at the Jeddah Conference, including the agreement on Committee members, financial stipulations, and the establishment of the regional headquarters for the Convention Secretariat in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Protocol Concerning the Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution by Oil and other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency, 1982^[4]

The Protocol Concerning the Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution by Oil and other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 1982, accounts for the threat of oil spills and the emergency actions that are needed as a result. It prioritises the need for cooperative and effective measures to deal with such emergencies and enhanced response mechanisms in order to protect the regional marine environment from adverse oil spill effects.

The Protocol Concerning the Conservation of Biological diversity and the Establishment of a Network of Protected Areas the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, 2005^[5]

The Protocol Concerning the Conservation of Biological diversity and the Establishment of a Network of Protected Areas the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, 2005, recognises the interconnected nature of marine ecosystems and the usefulness of MPAs for helping to sustain healthy populations of important species. The Protocol was prepared in cooperation with ROPME and the GCC, with EU support, and was created with the aim to complement existing international treaties, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The Protocol Concerning the Protection of the Environment from Land-Based Activities in in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,2005^[6]

The Protocol Concerning the Protection of the Environment from Land-Based Activities in in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 2005, addresses the rising threats from land-based sources of pollution (such as sewage, industrial effluents etc) to both the marine environment and human health. The Protocol responds to emerging LBA issues from recent global summits and aligns itself with the articles contained in section 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982), as well as the UNEP-GPA goals. Furthermore, PERSGA’s maturing ICZM work in its Member States potentially lays a solid foundation for addressing the national-regional character of LBA activities in terms of land-based pollution affecting the marine environment.

Cairo Declaration Concerning the Formation of the Regional Organisation for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), 1995^[7]

The Cairo Declaration Concerning the Formation of the Regional Organisation for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), 1995, formally launched PERSGA as an operational organisation to implement the activities and priorities stipulated in the Jeddah Convention (1982), its Protocols and its Action Plan. The Council Decision transferred to PERSGA its duties as outlined in the Jeddah Convention (1982).

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