UNEP/MAP Secretariat received official notification from Spain in its capacity as the Depositary of the Barcelona Convention confirming the entry into force of the amendments to the Annexes II and III of the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity (SPA/BD Protocol) adopted at the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP24), held in Cairo, Egypt, from 2 to 5 December 2025.
The amendments, adopted under COP24 Decision IG.27/7, were formally circulated to the Contracting Parties by the Depositary on 4 March 2026 and officially entered into force on 4 May 2026. The changes introduced in Annexes II and III of the SPA/BD Protocol now integrate the most recent scientific knowledge and reflect the latest developments under other major relevant global biodiversity instruments.
These updates represent a significant step forward in the region’s ongoing legal frameworks for marine and biodiversity conservation, while respecting the specific national contexts of the Contracting Parties.
For further details, please refer to the official COP 24 Decision IG.27/7 documentation available on the UNEP/MAP website.
Why the 2026 Annex II and III amendments matter
The SPA/BD Protocol imposes obligations that are broader and more comprehensive than other international treaties (CITES and CMS):
- Annex II (list of endangered or threatened species) requires Parties to ensure the maximum possible protection and recovery of listed species, prohibiting all forms of destruction, possession, killing, commerce, transport and exhibition for commercial purposes.
- Annex III (list of species whose exploitation is regulated) mandates Parties to regulate the take of listed species through measures such as closed seasons, gear restrictions, quotas, and size limits.
These in‑situ habitat‑based obligations complement the trade focus of CITES and the migration‑corridor focus of CMS. Together, they form a uniquely comprehensive legal architecture for Mediterranean biodiversity.
Key species coverage updates under Decision IG.27/7
The 2025–2026 amendments bring the Barcelona Annexes into alignment with the most recent decisions under CITES (CoP20, Samarkand, November – December 2025), CMS (COP15, Campo Grande, March 2026), and ACCOBAMS (MOP9, Limassol, November 2025).
Species newly added to Annex II (strict protection):
- Three threatened cartilaginous fishes: Echinorhinus brucus (bramble shark), Centrophorus uyato (little gulper shark), Dalatias licha (kitefin shark).
- Six sponge species: Neophrissospongia spp., Foraminospongia balearica, Haliclona poecillastroides, Leiodermatium spp., Pheronema carpenteri, Poecillastra compressa.
Species transferred from Annex III (regulated exploitation) to Annex II (strict protection):
- Alopias vulpinus (common thresher shark)
- Carcharhinus plumbeus (sandbar shark)
- Centrophorus spp. (gulper sharks)
- Prionace glauca (blue shark)
These transfers reflect the escalating global threat status of these taxa, driven by overfishing, bycatch, and international trade.
Taxonomic and nomenclatural updates: The amendments include a comprehensive revision of species names to ensure coherence with up‑to‑date taxonomy, enhancing legal clarity and scientific accuracy across the region.
