The basin Corso-Ligurian-Provenzale, which forms the International Cetacean’s Sanctuary of Ligurian Sea, shows the highest concentration of cetaceans in the Italian seas and most probably is the richest Mediterranean area for what concerns marine fauna. In addition, the basin is the main site for the nourishment of the finner whale.
In October 1999 in Rome, the Ministers of three leading states in the area (Italy, France and Principaute of Monaco) signed the Protocol that gave official birth to the Sanctuary. It was the first time in Europe that three nations of the Mediterranean area combined their efforts to create a protected area.