Even decades after armed conflicts, the seabed can still conceal historic munitions – mines, torpedoes, depth charges and other munitions – posing a danger to divers, fishers, and boaters, as well as threatening marine habitats.

In line with Italian, French and Monegasque regulations, the RAMOGE Agreement has produced a guidance sheet on the correct behaviour to adopt in the event of discovering historic munitions on the seabed, to ensure public safety and allow rapid intervention by the competent authorities.

General rules

• Do not touch or retrieve the object, not even partially.
• Immediately report its position to the competent authorities (Coast Guard – CROSSMED, VHF 16).
• Maintain an adequate safety distance and, if necessary, issue a warning to nearby vessels.
• Provide useful information: coordinates, dimensions, shape, colour and any other useful details.

Guidelines for fisherman

It is forbidden to haul an ordnance on board and then sink it elsewhere without authorisation: this constitutes a criminal offence and can cause serious environmental damage.

In the event of accidental discovery while fishing:

• If detected before setting the net → lower the gear, tow it slowly to the port indicated by the Authorities, and place it in the designated area marked with a buoy.
• If detected on board but with the net still closed → move leeward, close hatches, spray the ordnance with low-pressure water in case of smoke, then follow the previous procedure.
• If detected after opening the net → adopt safety measures, keep away from heat and vibrations, notify the Authorities, and await the bomb disposal team.

It is also recommended to empty the catch onto a waterproof tarpaulin to protect equipment and facilitate any subsequent operations.

📄 Download the RAMOGE good practice guide: https://ramoge.org/en/documents/