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.

Vision: Clean up of the Red Sea (zero discharge) and healthy environment and sustainable economic development of their coastal and marine resources.
Mission: Implementation of Action plan adopted by Ministerial Council
Objectives:
To improve the sustainable management and use of the RSGA’s coastal and marine resources. Sustainable management and use will be reflected in reduced threats to the environment, improved livelihoods of participating coastal communities and improved institutional, legal and financial arrangements.
To conserve the current excellent state of our shared marine environment. Our region is experiencing considerable growth which will bring benefits to all of us, but we must ensure that our use of the marine environment is sustainable and that developments have minimal impacts.
We will promote conservation, environmental protection and the wise use of natural resources throughout the region. We will act to coordinate programmes which are occurring in different countries to ensure that the benefits and experiences of national programmes will be spread throughout the region. We will foster the growth of each country’s capacity to assess and protect its marine environment.
We will promote conservation, environmental protection and the wise use of natural resources throughout the region. We will act to coordinate programmes which are occurring in different countries to ensure that the benefits and experiences of national programmes will be spread throughout the region. We will foster the growth of each country’s capacity to assess and protect its marine environment.
According to the Jeddah Convention 1982, Article XIX: THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT
1) The Secretary General shall head the General Secretariat and perform the functions necessary for the management of the Convention and its protocols, annexes, the action plan and the work of the General Secretariat.
2) The General Secretariat shall have the duties and powers necessary to achieve the purposes of this Convention and its protocols and to execute the action plan, according to decisions of the Council, and in particular:
    • To prepare for and convene the meetings of the Council and its subsidiary bodies and ad hoc working groups.
    • To transmit to the Contracting Parties notifications, reports and other information received.
    • To consider inquiries by, and information from, the Contracting Parties and to consult with them on questions relating to this Convention and its protocols, annexes and the action plan.
    • To prepare and submit reports on matters relating to this Convention, its protocols, annexes and the action plan or relating to the administration of the Organization.
    • To establish, maintain and disseminate an up-to-date collection of national laws concerning the conservation of the marine environment of all Contracting Parties.
    • To provide technical assistance and advice for the drafting of appropriate national legislation for the effective implementation of this Convention and its protocols.
    • To organize and co-ordinate training programmes in areas related to the implementation of this Convention, its protocols and the action plan.
    • To perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Council for the implementation of this Convention, its protocols and the action plan.