April 9, 2024.
On the eve of the announcement of the Mediterranean Missions in Barcelona, as part of the second meeting of the Decade of the Ocean, Xavier Prache sets the scene, looks ahead to the next missions and measures the progress already made since his arrival on September 1, 2023 at the head of Explorations de Monaco.
Off we go!
This is it!
April 9, 2024.
The announcement of Monaco’s Mediterranean Explorations Missions!
Barely 7 months after taking the helm of this singular platform, entirely dedicated to serving H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco’s commitment to the knowledge, sustainable management and protection of the Ocean, I find myself in Barcelona.
From the terrace of the apartment rented for the occasion, the Explorations team’s HQ for this baptism of fire, I contemplate the Port Vell and its promenade, where the travelling exhibition on Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean, entitled“Time for Action“, has been installed for the past few days.
This formidable mediation tool is the result of a lot of hard work, carried out with our partners for the occasion.
Everything is ready, or seems to be!
The team worked for it!
Before me, Gilles Bessero, former director of Explorations de Monaco, had charted the course.
As a good ship’s captain, I followed it, making sure that every member of the crew was ready for the big day.
And here we are!
The first mediation activities began the day before with classes from the Lycée Français de Barcelone, including the 4th grade class with ” maritime issues“.
The students are already motivated and committed, to become tomorrow’s ambassadors for the Mediterranean to their classmates and families, and the day after tomorrow to their children, in turn, and to their colleagues in their professional lives.
They are lively, interested and curious, with the insolence that youth still allows: the challenges facing the Mediterranean in general, and the Marine Protected Areas in particular, are nourished by this youth, this strength, this hope for the future.
Time for Action
The Mediterranean is a nugget of biodiversity, representing less than 1% of the total surface area of the oceans.
Yet it is home to 8% of the world’s marine species and 28% of endemic species.
This sea in the middle of the earth needs our joint commitment, all generations, strengths and skills united, if the ambitious targets set in 2022 in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework are to have any chance of being approached: 30% of the Mediterranean duly conserved and managed by 2030!
It’s time for action.
For months, the team has been working on the events that will mark the announcement day.
But we’re not alone: the co-organizers of these events, MedPAN, SPA/RAC, The MedFund and the Monk Seal Alliance, have been supporting us from the outset.
Our institutional partners too, the Princely Government, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Oceanographic Institute, the Monaco Scientific Centre, and the Yacht Club de Monaco, thanks to whom we are fortunate enough to be accompanied to Barcelona by Tuiga, the Principality of Monaco’s heritage sailboat.
No, we’re not alone, and we’re even privileged to be able to count on the presence of the Sovereign Prince at each of our satellite events.
What other state in the world can boast such a commitment, on a daily basis, to the benefit of the Ocean, and here in particular the Mediterranean Sea?
The stage is set for Missions Méditerranée.
And for a long time to come!
Just imagine: 7 years of missions all around the Mediterranean, serving marine protected areas and their managers.
Barcelona will be followed in October 2024 by the first Mediterranean Missions mission, the launch mission, to Greece!
5 weeks in which we look forward to coming back to you to share the Principality of Monaco’s commitment…
Onwards and upwards!
Set course for the Mediterranean and its marine protected areas!
Xavier PRACHE
Director of Explorations in Monaco.
Xavier PRACHE succeeded Gilles BESSERO on September 1, 2023.
